Supreme Court of Texas Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht with Texas Access to Justice Foundation Board of Directors Chair Deborah Hankinson. Photo courtesy of the Texas Access to Justice Foundation
The Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF) celebrated 40 years of access to justice for low-income Texans at a luncheon on December 2 with the Supreme Court of Texas. TAJF also honored Supreme Court of Texas Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht for his years of leadership and contributions to access to justice with the Kleinman Award, its highest honor.
“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,” said TAJF Board of Directors Chair Deborah Hankinson in a press release. “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.”
Hecht, who is the longest serving member in the history of the Supreme Court of Texas and the longest tenured Texas judge in active service, has been elected to the Supreme Court seven times, first in 1988 as a justice and then in 2014 and 2020 as chief justice. He was appointed to district court in 1981 and elected to the court of appeals in 1986.
The Kleinman Award, established by the TAJF in 1995 and named after TAJF’s first chairman, Harold F. Kleinman, is awarded to those whose commitment to public service and outstanding character make them true leaders in access to civil justice, according to a press release. The award is not given annually.
Sen. Judith Zaffirini presented a resolution on behalf of the Texas Senate honoring Hecht. Margarita Sanchez, a longtime member of the TAJF Board of Directors, and TAJF Associate Director Jonathan Vickery were also recognized at the luncheon.
For more information about TAJF, go to teajf.org.