Wallace Jefferson
| Wallace B. Jefferson | |
 | |
| Current Court Information: | |
| Texas Supreme Court | |
| Title: | Chief Justice |
| Service: | |
| Appointed by: | Rick Perry |
| Active: | March 2001 - present |
| Personal History | |
| Born: | July 22, 1963 |
| Party: | Republican |
| Bachelors: | Michigan State University |
| Law School: | University of Texas School of Law |
Contents |
Wallace B. Jefferson is the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas. He was appointed to the court by Governor Perry in March of 2001 and he was elected on November 5, 2002 before becoming chief justice in 2004. His term ends on December 31, 2014. [1][2]
Wallace is the first African-American Chief Justice in the history of Texas.[3]
Education
Jefferson received his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.[1]
Career
After graduating from law school, Jefferson went into private practice. He became partner in 1991. He was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court in 2001. [4]
Awards and Associations
- 2012 Morton A. Brody Distinguished Judicial Service Award [5]
- 1997 Outstanding Young Lawyer, San Antonio Lawyers Association
- "Pillars of the Foundation" award, North Side Independent School District
- 2010 President, Conference of Chief Justices
- Chair, National Center for State Courts
- 1998-99 President, San Antonio Bar Association
- Former director, San Antonio Public Library Foundation
- Former director, Alamo Area Big Brothers/Big Sisters
- Former member, Education committee, San Antonio Area Foundation [1]
Elections
2008
Jefferson ran for re-election to the court on November 4, 2008 against Democratic challenger Jim Jordan, winning 53% of the vote. (See Texas Supreme Court elections for more information).[6]
For information on Justice Jefferson's campaign fundraising, visit: Follow the Money: Wallace Jefferson
2002
Jefferson was elected to the Texas Supreme Court om 2002. He defeated William E. Moody, winning 56.76% of the vote. [7]
In his 2002 campaign, Jefferson raised a total of $1,143,406 with 1644 total records.[8]
Notable rulings
On Exorcisms
In a 6-3 vote, the Texas Supreme Court threw out a jury award over injuries a 17-year-old girl suffered in an exorcism conducted by members of her old church, ruling that the case unconstitutionally entangled the court in religious matters. The Supreme Court threw out the $188,000 that the Court of Appeals awarded. Justice David Medina wrote that finding the church liable "would have an unconstitutional 'chilling effect' by compelling the church to abandon core principles of its religious beliefs." But Jefferson, in a dissenting opinion, stated that the "sweeping immunity" is inconsistent with U.S. Supreme Court precedent and extends far beyond the Constitution's protections for religious conduct. "The First Amendment guards religious liberty; it does not sanction intentional abuse in religion's name," Jefferson wrote.[9]
Opinion article
- Chief Justice Jefferson wrote an opinion article for the Dallas News after the Supreme Court overturned a conviction after an individual served 27 years in prison. To read it, visit: Dallas News, "Wallace Jefferson: It's time that the state investigates cases that resulted in DNA-evidence exoneration", January 29, 2008
External links
- The Supreme Court of Texas, Chief Justice Wallace B. Johnson
- Official campaign website
- Project Vote Smart, Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson (TX)
- The University of Texas at Austin, "Alumnus Wallace B. Jefferson, '88, Appointed First African American Chief Justice of Texas Supreme Court", September 14, 2004
- Chief Justice Jefferson's 2011 State of Judiciary address
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Supreme Court of Texas, Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson
- ↑ Office of the Secretary of State, 2002 General Election
- ↑ Texas Politics, "Characteristics of the Judiciary"
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson (TX)
- ↑ Colby College, "Texas Supreme Court Justice to Receive Brody Award," March 20, 2012
- ↑ Office of the Secretary of State, 2008 General Election
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, 2002 General Election Results]
- ↑ Follow the Money: Wallace Jefferson 2002
- ↑ USA Today, "Texas high court rules exorcism protected by law", June 30, 2008
