News
Recommendations: Texas Supreme Court
Chief Justice
Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson, a Republican, has led the court since 2005. He’s helped increase the court’s transparency by putting more records online and getting arguments posted on the St. Mary’s University law school Web site.
Jefferson, 45, said he wants to continue working on several projects, including improving technology to better track the progress of opinions, putting argument transcripts online and making sure the courts are prepared to handle major emergencies.
Democrat Jim Jordan, a state district judge in Dallas since 2006, argues that the court is “out of balance” and “adrift” for lack of leadership from Jefferson. Jordan, 56, said the court has a case backlog, in part, because Jefferson is distracted by administrative duties; unsigned opinions too often are used to correct minor errors by lower courts; and the court has changed its standard for reviewing jury verdicts.
Jefferson, however, said that some backlog occurred because the court had continual turnover for several years, but he believes progress is being made to clear cases.
Austin attorney Pamela Stanton Baron found that the court this year greatly reduced the number of cases that had been argued but not yet decided, Texas Lawyer reported.
“If we’re being blamed for making the law better, that’s a criticism I’m willing to take,” Jefferson said.
Both men believe that Texas should re-examine its judicial selection method. But Jefferson said he’s been told directly that it won’t go anywhere in the upcoming session. We won’t let him forget it’s important.
The Star-Telegram recommends Wallace Jefferson for Texas Supreme Court chief justice.
