HCR138 - Congratulating Nathan L. Hecht on his retirement as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas.

      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