African American Living Legend: Wallace Jefferson: Chief Justice Texas Supreme Court
http://www.aframnews.com/html/interspire/articles/982/1/African-American-Living-Legend-Wallace-Jefferson-Chief-Justice-Texas-Supreme-Court/Page1.html
Staff Writer
By Staff Writer
Published on 10/7/2009
AUSTIN- Wallace Jefferson has twice made history as the first African-American Justice and Chief Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas. Chief Justice Jefferson was appointed to the Court in 2001, making him Governor Perry’s first appointment to a statewide judicial office. He was elected in 2002 and in 2004, Perry promoted him to Chief Justice. In 2006, Jefferson earned more votes than any other candidate for State office.
AUSTIN- Wallace Jefferson has twice made history as the first African-American Justice and Chief Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas. Chief Justice Jefferson was appointed to the Court in 2001, making him Governor Perry’s first appointment to a statewide judicial office. He was elected in 2002 and in 2004, Perry promoted him to Chief Justice. In 2006, Jefferson earned more votes than any other candidate for State office.
The son of retired Air Force Major William D. Jefferson and Joyce Jefferson of San Antonio, Texas, he graduated from John Jay High School in 1981, received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Philosophy from James Madison College at Michigan State University in 1985, and earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1988 from the University of Texas School of Law. He is board certified in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Jefferson developed an early interest in appellate law as a student of the late constitutional scholar Charles Alan Wright. In 1989, he joined the appellate section of Groce, Locke and Hebdon in San Antonio. He founded his own appellate law firm with Tom Crofts and Sharon Callaway in 1991. Crofts, Callaway and Jefferson soon became one of the preeminent appellate practices in Texas.
He successfully argued two cases before the United States Supreme Court by age 35, which is an accomplishment earned by less than one percent of lawyers in the country. His experience arguing at the highest court in the land, combined with his frequent appearances before the Supreme Court of Texas and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, brings a unique and valuable perspective to the bench.
We salute Wallace Jefferson as this week’s Living Legend and invite you to send in who you think will make a good Living Legend and why they should be honored.
The son of retired Air Force Major William D. Jefferson and Joyce Jefferson of San Antonio, Texas, he graduated from John Jay High School in 1981, received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Philosophy from James Madison College at Michigan State University in 1985, and earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1988 from the University of Texas School of Law. He is board certified in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
Jefferson developed an early interest in appellate law as a student of the late constitutional scholar Charles Alan Wright. In 1989, he joined the appellate section of Groce, Locke and Hebdon in San Antonio. He founded his own appellate law firm with Tom Crofts and Sharon Callaway in 1991. Crofts, Callaway and Jefferson soon became one of the preeminent appellate practices in Texas.
He successfully argued two cases before the United States Supreme Court by age 35, which is an accomplishment earned by less than one percent of lawyers in the country. His experience arguing at the highest court in the land, combined with his frequent appearances before the Supreme Court of Texas and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, brings a unique and valuable perspective to the bench.
We salute Wallace Jefferson as this week’s Living Legend and invite you to send in who you think will make a good Living Legend and why they should be honored.