The Texas Supreme Court unveiled the official portrait of Wallace B. Jefferson, the state’s first African-American justice and chief justice, on Sept. 6. Jefferson, who discovered through genealogic research that his great-great-great grandfather was a slave owned by a Texas judge, served as chief justice from 2004 until his retirement in 2013.
“Chief Justice Jefferson broke barriers as the first African American to lead the Texas Supreme Court, but his true legacy is one of unwavering dedication to the principles of fairness and equality for all Texans,” said Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht.
Appointed by former Gov. Rick Perry in 2001, Jefferson was re-elected multiple times and is recognized for his contributions to juvenile justice reform, access-to-justice initiatives, and launching a statewide electronic filing system. His portrait will be donated to The Texas Supreme Court Historical Society.
Jefferson was elected to ALI in December 2001 and to the ALI Council in May 2011. He served as Treasurer from 2014-2023, as well as an Adviser on Restatement of the Law, Consumer Contracts (published 2024).
A video of Jefferson’s portrait dedication is available courtesy of the Texas Supreme Court.