Former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson has been named 2014 Texan of the Year by the Texas Legislative Conference for his accomplishments on the bench.
Gov. Rick Perry appointed him to the court in 2001 and he subsequently was elected in 2002. Perry later named him chief justice in 2004 and voters elected him to chief justice in 2006 and to a full term in 2008.
He holds the distinction of being the first African-American justice and the first African-American chief justice...
Wallace Jefferson, the first African-American to be chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court and one of the most respected jurists in the nation, is resigning his position effective Oct. 1.
In an interview Monday, Jefferson said that he informed Gov. Rick Perry of his decision last week and that an official announcement will be issued Tuesday.
The governor is expected to appoint a new chief justice quickly. That appointee will have to run for election next fall.
Jefferson has served on the state’s...
