Nathan L. Hecht was elected to the Texas Supreme Court in 1988 and was re-elected in 1994, 2000, 2006, and 2012. He is the senior Texas appellate judge in active service and was appointed Chief Justice in 2013.
Since 2010, Chief Justice Hecht has been responsible for the Court’s efforts to assure that the poor have basic legal services. He has diligently worked to secure congressional and legislative support for legal aid to veterans and their families, victims of domestic abuse, and families in jeopardy of losing their homes.
EXPERIENCED JUDGE
Supreme Court liaison to assure funding, support for legal services to the poor
Supreme Court liaison for rules of administration, practice, and procedure for Texas judicial system
Senior Justice, Texas Supreme Court (longest serving in Texas history)
Justice, 5th District Court of Appeals
Judge, 95th District Court, Dallas Co.
DISTINGUISHED LEGAL SCHOLAR
American Law Institute member Yale University, BA (honors in Philosophy)
SMU Law School, JD (cum laude)
Law Clerk, US Court of Appeals, Washington, DC
INTEGRITY & LEADERSHIP
SMU School of Law Distinguished Alumni Award for Judicial Service
Hatton W. Sumners Foundation Distinguished Public Service Award
Texas Philosophical Society
Lieutenant, US Naval Reserve
JAG Corps
President of the National Conference of Chief Justices