Ruby Kless Sondock
Encyclopedia
Justice Ruby Kless Sondock (born April 26, 1926 in Houston, Texas
) was the first woman to serve on the Texas Supreme Court
. Sondock initially attended the University of Houston Law Center
in order to become a legal secretary, but she was admitted to the state bar a year before her graduation as valedictorian
of her class (1962). Sondock was appointed to the Harris County Domestic Relations Court No. 5 in 1973 and to the 234th District Court in 1977. Justice Sondock was the first woman to be appointed as a State District Judge in Harris County, Texas
.
Sondock was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court following the death of Associate Justice James G. Denton on June 10th, 1982. Sondock served from June 25th to December 31st of that year, completing Denton's term. Sondock declined to seek election to the Supreme Court and instead ran successfully for reelection to her District Court seat the following year. Sondock was the court's first female justice, with the exception of a special all-woman court convened in 1925 to hear a single case. Justice Sondock formed part of the majority of the Texas Supreme Court
in the landmark case of Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia, S. A. v. Hall
.
A distinguished legal mind, Justice Sondock has received a number of accolades, including an annual lecture series on legal ethics
. Former speakers at the Sondock Lecture on Legal Ethics at the University of Houston Law Center include U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch
and Helen Thomas.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
) was the first woman to serve on the Texas Supreme Court
Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
. Sondock initially attended the University of Houston Law Center
University of Houston Law Center
The University of Houston Law Center is a law school located in Houston, Texas. It is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1947, the Law Center is one of 12 academic colleges of the University of Houston...
in order to become a legal secretary, but she was admitted to the state bar a year before her graduation as valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
of her class (1962). Sondock was appointed to the Harris County Domestic Relations Court No. 5 in 1973 and to the 234th District Court in 1977. Justice Sondock was the first woman to be appointed as a State District Judge in Harris County, Texas
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
.
Sondock was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court following the death of Associate Justice James G. Denton on June 10th, 1982. Sondock served from June 25th to December 31st of that year, completing Denton's term. Sondock declined to seek election to the Supreme Court and instead ran successfully for reelection to her District Court seat the following year. Sondock was the court's first female justice, with the exception of a special all-woman court convened in 1925 to hear a single case. Justice Sondock formed part of the majority of the Texas Supreme Court
Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
in the landmark case of Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia, S. A. v. Hall
Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia, S. A. v. Hall
Helicopteros Nacionales de Colombia, S. A. v. Hall, 466 U.S. 408 was an American case decided by the United States Supreme Court, holding that purchases in the United States by an out of state corporation did not establish personal jurisdiction.Helicopteros, a Columbian corporation,...
.
A distinguished legal mind, Justice Sondock has received a number of accolades, including an annual lecture series on legal ethics
Legal ethics
Legal ethics encompasses an ethical code governing the conduct of persons engaged in the practice of law and persons more generally in the legal sector.-In the United States:...
. Former speakers at the Sondock Lecture on Legal Ethics at the University of Houston Law Center include U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch
Orrin Hatch
Orrin Grant Hatch is the senior United States Senator for Utah and is a member of the Republican Party. Hatch served as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1993 to 2005...
and Helen Thomas.