Congratulating Nathan L. Hecht on his retirement as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas.

89(R) HCR 138 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

H.C.R. No. 138

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Honorable Nathan L. Hecht retired as chief

justice of the Supreme Court of Texas on December 31, 2024,

concluding a remarkable 35-year tenure on the court; and

WHEREAS, First elected to the state's highest civil court in

1988, Justice Hecht became the longest-serving member in its

history, as well as the longest-tenured Texas judge in active

service; in 2013, he was appointed chief justice, and he was twice

reelected to that post; and

WHEREAS, Justice Hecht gained wide admiration for his sharp

intellect, philosophical approach, and commitment to court reform;

he oversaw revision of the rules of administration, practice, and

procedure in the state's courts, and his efforts led to the

simplification of appellate rules and promoted more swift

resolution of cases; moreover, he drove modernization of

technology, and Texas adopted e-filing in advance of many other

states; as president of the National Conference of Chief Justices,

he advised other states that were taking their systems online

during the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, Dedicated to improving access to the justice system,

Justice Hecht worked to reduce barriers for low-income Texans, and

he successfully urged the Legislature to increase Legal Aid

funding; and

WHEREAS, Justice Hecht was appointed to the federal Advisory

Committee on Civil Rules by the chief justice of the United States;

in addition, he served his profession through his service on the

Council of the American Law Institute, of which he is a life member;

he is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and

the Philosophical Society of Texas; and

WHEREAS, A graduate of Yale University and the Southern

Methodist University Dedman School of Law, Justice Hecht clerked

for Judge Roger Robb on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District

of Columbia Circuit; he served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy

Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps and then entered private

practice, becoming a partner in the Locke firm in Dallas; appointed

to the district court in 1981, he was elected to the court of

appeals five years later; and

WHEREAS, Over the course of his exemplary career, Nathan

Hecht helped shape Texas jurisprudence and improve the

administration of the court system, and his enormous contributions

will continue to resonate in the years to come; now, therefore, be

it

RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas

hereby congratulate Nathan L. Hecht on his retirement as chief

justice of the Supreme Court of Texas and extend sincere best wishes

for the future; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

prepared for Justice Hecht as an expression of high regard by the

Texas House of Representatives and Senate.

Leach

______________________________

______________________________

President of the Senate

Speaker of the House

I certify that H.C.R. No. 138 was adopted by the House on May

23, 2025, by a non-record vote.

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.C.R. No. 138 was adopted by the Senate on May

27, 2025, by a viva-voce vote.

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: __________________

Date

__________________

Governor