|
News Release
Texas Access to Justice Foundation AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF) hosted a luncheon Dec. 2 with the Supreme Court of Texas celebrating 40 years of expanding access to justice for low-income Texans. At the luncheon, the Texas Access to Justice Foundation honored Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht for his leadership and contributions to access to justice with the Kleinman Award, TAJF’s highest honor. Chief Justice Hecht is the longest-serving member of the Court in Texas history and the longest-tenured Texas judge in active service. He has been elected to the Court seven times, first in 1988 as a Justice and then in 2014 and 2020 as Chief Justice. As a liaison to the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, Chief Justice Hecht is widely regarded for strengthening bipartisan support for basic civil legal aid for those in need. “Chief Justice Hecht is passionate about justice and has been a tremendous advocate, in Texas and nationwide, for closing the justice gap impacting those who cannot afford legal services,” Deborah Hankinson, chair of the board of directors of TAJF said. “He cares deeply about providing legal services for all and has demonstrated his commitment as a leader on our state’s highest court by expanding resources for the legal aid delivery system.” Chief Justice Hecht was appointed to the district court in 1981 and was elected to the court of appeals in 1986. Before taking the bench, he was a partner in the Locke firm in Dallas. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in philosophy from Yale University, and a Juris Doctor degree cum laude from the Southern Methodist University School of Law, where he was a Hatton W. Sumners Scholar. He clerked for Judge Roger Robb on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps. He is a past president of the national Conference of Chief Justices, a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Life Member of the American Law Institute and a member of Council, and a member of the Texas Philosophical Society. Established by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation in 1995, the Kleinman Award, named for the Foundation’s first chairman, Harold F. Kleinman, is awarded to individuals whose outstanding character, commitment and public service to the people of Texas make them true leaders in access to civil justice. The Kleinman Award is not given annually but only when an individual’s legislative and advocating efforts reflect exceptional leadership. Dean Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) presented a resolution on behalf of the Texas Senate honoring Chief Justice Hecht for his outstanding career and exemplary service to the Supreme Court of Texas. Also recognized at the Luncheon were Margarita Sanchez, a longtime member of the TAJF Board of Directors from El Paso, and TAJF Associate Director Jonathan Vickery, who is retiring after 16 years at the organization and a long career in legal aid. Legal aid organizations funded by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation help more than 100,000 low-income Texas families each year with their civil legal needs. For more information on TAJF, visit www.teajf.org ### The Texas Access to Justice Foundation, created by the Supreme Court of Texas in 1984, is the primary state-based funding source for the provision of civil legal aid in Texas. The organization is committed to the vision that all Texans will have equal access to justice, regardless of their income. The Foundation administers a variety of funding sources, which are earmarked to assist nonprofit organizations in providing legal aid to more than 100,000 Texas families each year. For more information, please visit: www.teajf.org
Contact: Kimberly Schmitt512-320-0099, ext. 104 kschmitt@teajf.org
|
Recent News |
