Wallace B. Jefferson

Wallace B. Jefferson is Co-Chair of the firm’s Texas Supreme Court and State Appellate Practice. Prior to joining Alexander Dubose & Jefferson in 2013, he served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas. Appointed to the Supreme Court in 2001 and named Chief Justice in 2004, Jefferson made Texas history as the Court’s first African American Justice and Chief Justice. He has successfully argued cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Supreme Court of Texas, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He led the Court’s efforts to fund access to justice programs; helped reform juvenile justice; and inaugurated a statewide electronic filing system for Texas courts. During his time on the bench, Jefferson was elected President of the Conference of Chief Justices, an association of chief justices from the 50 states and U.S. territories.

A graduate of the James Madison College at Michigan State University and The University of Texas School of Law, Jefferson is the namesake for Wallace B. Jefferson Middle School in San Antonio. He is Chair of the Texas Commission to Expand Civil Legal Services, serves on the Board of the by-invitation-only American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, and is a Council member of the of American Law Institute.  Jefferson is also a member of the Texas Commission on Judicial Selection and serves on the Board of the Project on Government Oversight and Lexitas. Jefferson has been certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1993.

Jefferson has been honored with the 2014 Texas Center for Legal Ethics Chief Justice Jack Pope Professionalism Award, honoring a judge or attorney who personifies the highest standards of the legal profession; the 2014 Texas Appleseed J. Chrys Dougherty Good Apple Award because of his leadership in seeking equality for all Texans, especially the less fortunate; and the 2015 Anti-Defamation League Austin Jurisprudence Award, honoring an outstanding member of the legal community who exhibits a commitment to equality, justice, fairness, and community service. Jefferson was named 2014 Texan of the Year by the Texas Legislative Conference, and was honored with the 2016 Presidential Citation Award from The University of Texas. This award recognizes extraordinary contributions of individuals who personify the university’s commitment to transforming lives.

He is listed in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2019-2023), Best Lawyers in America (2016-2024), and Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters (2015-2023).