Wallace B. Jefferson
| Wallace Bernard Jefferson | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Chief Justice, Texas Supreme Court | |
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In office September 2004 – October 1, 2013 |
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| Nominated by | Rick Perry |
| Preceded by | Thomas R. Phillips |
| Succeeded by | Nathan Hecht |
| Associate Justice of the Texas Supreme Court | |
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In office 2001–2004 |
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| Nominated by | Rick Perry |
| Preceded by | Alberto Gonzales |
| Succeeded by | David M. Medina |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 22, 1963 |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Rhonda Jefferson |
| Children | 3 |
| Occupation | attorney, former jurist |
Wallace Bernard Jefferson (born July 22, 1963) is the former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, who served from 2004 until October 1, 2013. In October 2013, he joined the law firm, Alexander Dubose Jefferson Townsend LLP, as a name partner. He sits on the council of the American Law Institute and became its treasurer, in May 2014. A member of the Republican Party, he was formerly, the first African American justice of the Texas Supreme Court.
He is a graduate of John Jay High School in San Antonio, Texas, the James Madison College at Michigan State University and the University of Texas School of Law.
In 2001, then Texas governor Rick Perry appointed him to become the first African American justice of the Texas Supreme Court, and then again, in 2004, he was appointed the first African American chief justice. In November 2002, Jefferson also became, with Dale Wainwright, the first two African Americans elected to the court.
Jefferson was first appointed to the court on April 18, 2001, to fill the vacancy left by Alberto R. Gonzales, who resigned to become White House counsel to U.S. president George W. Bush. Jefferson was then elected to that seat, in 2002 with 56 percent of the vote. Before Jefferson could complete his new term, however, he was again promoted by Perry. On September 20, 2004, Perry appointed Jefferson as the successor to chief justice Thomas R. Phillips, who had resigned from the court a few weeks earlier, after nearly seventeen years as chief justice. Jefferson was elected in November 2006, to serve out the remainder of Phillips's unexpired term as chief justice in November 2006.
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