Wallace B. Jefferson
Encyclopedia
Wallace Bernard Jefferson (born July 22, 1963) is the Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of Texas. His current term ends on December 31, 2014.
Rick Perry
appointed him 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, along with Justice Dale Wainwright
, one of 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 President George W. Bush
. Jefferson was then elected to that seat in 2002 with 56 percent of the vote. Before Jefferson could get a chance to complete his new term, however, he was again promoted by Perry. On September 20, 2004, Perry appointed Jefferson the successor to Chief Justice Thomas R. Phillips, who had retired from the Court a few weeks earlier after nearly seventeen years as chief. Jefferson was elected to serve out the remainder of Phillips's unexpired term as Chief Justice in November 2006.
He is an alumnus 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
.
Here is the dedication video produced by Northside Independent School District
.
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Supreme Court of Texas. His current term ends on December 31, 2014.
Historic judicial appointments and election
Jefferson has three times made Texas judicial history. In 2001, GovernorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
appointed him 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, along with Justice Dale Wainwright
Dale Wainwright
Dale Wainwright is an Associate Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. He was first elected to a six-year term on the Court in November 2002, and he was reelected in 2008 to a term that will end in 2014. He replaced Deborah Hankinson on the Court....
, one of 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
White House Counsel
The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President of the United States.-Role:The Counsel's role is to advise the President on all legal issues concerning the President and the White House...
to President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. Jefferson was then elected to that seat in 2002 with 56 percent of the vote. Before Jefferson could get a chance to complete his new term, however, he was again promoted by Perry. On September 20, 2004, Perry appointed Jefferson the successor to Chief Justice Thomas R. Phillips, who had retired from the Court a few weeks earlier after nearly seventeen years as chief. Jefferson was elected to serve out the remainder of Phillips's unexpired term as Chief Justice in November 2006.
2008 Election
Jefferson ran for his first full six year term on the court in 2008. He was chiefly opposed in the election by Democrat Jim Jordan. Jefferson won the election with 53% of the vote to Jordan's 44%. Libertarian candidate Tom Oxford won 3% of the vote. Jefferson's term will end in 2014.Personal life
Jefferson and his wife, Rhonda J. Jefferson (born 1965), have three sons.He is an alumnus of John Jay High School
John Jay High School (San Antonio, Texas)
John Jay High School is a high school in the Northside Independent School District of San Antonio, Texaswhich serves a portion of the city of San Antonio. All high schools in the Northside Independent School District are named for US Supreme Court Chief Justices; the first Supreme Court Chief...
in San Antonio, Texas
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...
, the James Madison College
James Madison College
This article is about the public-policy college at Michigan State University. For the similarly named institution in Virginia, see James Madison University....
at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
and the University of Texas School of Law
University of Texas School of Law
The University of Texas School of Law, also known as UT Law, is an ABA-certified American law school located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The law school has been in operation since the founding of the University in 1883. It was one of only two schools at the University when it was...
.
Wallace B. Jefferson Middle School
In tribute to one of Northside ISD's most famous alumni, the district's 15th middle school was named in Jefferson's honor. The school opened on August 27, 2007. The dedication ceremony was held on October 27, 2007.Here is the dedication video produced by Northside Independent School District
Northside Independent School District
Northside Independent School District is a school district headquartered in Leon Valley, Texas. It is the largest school district in the San Antonio area and the fourth largest in the State of Texas...
.
External links
- Profile at Texas Supreme Court website
- Official Campaign Site for Wallace Jefferson
- University of Texas Law School Press Release Announcing Jefferson's appointment as Chief Justice
- Mogle, Danny, "Jefferson running to fill high court term." Tyler Morning TelegraphTyler Morning TelegraphThe Tyler Morning Telegraph is a daily newspaper based in Tyler, Texas, U.S. It is privately owned by the T.B. Butler Publishing Company, Inc....
, October 23, 2001. - Wallace B. Jefferson Middle School