(Tom Reel / Express-News)
New Texas Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson takes the oath of office Thursday from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in the House Chambers at the State Capitol. Jefferson's wife, Rhonda, looks on.
Posted on 11/12/2004 10:53:46 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
AUSTIN — With equal parts pomp and humor, and as his youngest son snoozed, San Antonio attorney Wallace B. Jefferson on Thursday became the first African American to lead the Texas Supreme Court.
Appointed by Gov. Rick Perry, the descendant of a slave was sworn in as the 26th Chief Justice of the state's highest civil court at a ceremony that was decidedly a family affair.
His three sons, William, 10, Samuel, 8, and Michael, 5, led the crowd in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance before Michael snuggled on a lawmaker's chair and fell asleep.
Justice Jefferson's older brother Lamont Jefferson led the San Antonio Bar Singers in an a cappella version of the National Anthem.
With a nearly full house sitting in the ornate Texas House chamber, Jefferson, with wife Rhonda at his side, was administered the oath of office by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
Jokes, poignant recollections and praise broke the somber tone during the 90-minute ceremony for Jefferson and Tom Phillips, whom Jefferson replaced as head of the nine-judge panel.
Scalia, introduced as one of the most controversial U.S. Supreme Court members and described as the "Arnold Schwarzenegger of American jurisprudence," drew a laugh when he said he hoped Jefferson stayed on the bench just as long as Phillips, to whom he also administered the oath of office 17 years ago.
Phillips, who at age 38 became the youngest chief justice in Texas history, stepped down earlier this year.
San Antonio attorney Tom Cross, who was Jefferson's law partner for a decade, praised Jefferson's devotion to the job and all-night briefing sessions, saying he "taught me by example, and it was his example that led me to adopt his buzz-cut hairstyle."
In his "swearing out" ceremony, Phillips said the all-Republican court "will face challenges about the future: issues of privacy, security, and responses to technology advances, including what it is to be human in the field of biotechnology."
First lady Anita Perry, standing in for the governor, termed Jefferson "a stellar appellate attorney" who twice argued, and won, cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Afterward, retired Air Force officer Bill Jefferson, the chief justice's father, noted with an emotion-filled voice, "Never, ever did I dream that an occasion like this would occur. This is a milestone for the state, but also for the many young boys behind him who will follow him as a role model."
ggarcia@express-news.net
New Texas Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson takes the oath of office Thursday from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in the House Chambers at the State Capitol. Jefferson's wife, Rhonda, looks on.
PING!
I am, as a Texan, very proud of this achievement.
Leslie
The nations of the world should look upon this moment in Texas to truly understand the meaning of the United States of America.
Any human being, regardless of origin, is given the equal opportunity to achieve what he or she is capable of achieving.
There is no where else on earth where this is possible in in a form so pure as America.
It is a system that is worthy of envy and imitation.
Thank you for posting this. When I adopted Texas as my home state 27 years ago, I wouldn't have thought this momentous occasion would be possible. Texas is so much more complex, diverse, and advanced than what the east coast elite think of us. I was born in Boston, worked and lived in DC for 22 years and came to TX as soon as I could.
Do you come from or live in Swinney Switch. Great people live there.
God willing, the United States will also have a black Chief Justice when William Rehnquist retires: Clarence Thomas.
Live in the suburbs of Swinney Switch.;^)
Last Tuesday our vote was:
Bush 171
Kerry 20
Badnarik 3
Hope the early vote was even stronger for Bush!
Good riddance to Tom Phillips, the biggest RINO scalawag piece of trash in Texas government.
I need some feedback. I am hoping and assuming that slimeball Democrat running for Supreme Court in Texas, David van Os, tied to Memogate was pounded in the general election. Tell me I'm correct.
Times, they be a changing in the Lone Star........
Golly, I wonder if that would have been big news had he been a Democrat.
Yes, I believe he was taken to the wood shed.
Further: Brister (r) 4,089,603; Van Os (d) 2,812,824
All Texas statewide elections were won by Republicans for the fifth straight election!
Yeah, they would have told of all the obstacles he overcame and how his family is so proud. Of course, being a ricchhh Republican with no social conscious, he'll just be a poodle to the real power brokers that wish to steal from the poor, trash the environment, and make war. Had he emigrated to kanada, the home of real tolerance and justice, he could have risen all the way up to dog catcher.:-)
bump! bump! bump!
Scott Brister...4,067,721
David Van Os...2,800,605
ol hoghead
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