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Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht delivers his State of the Judiciary speech at the Supreme Court in Austin on Apr. 5, 2023.

As Texas Chief Justice Nathan Hecht prepares to retire, he reflects on the Supreme Court he helped change

Over 35 years, Hecht modernized the court, increased access to justice for the poor and saw his conservative views come to dominate the bench.


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A ‘sea change’

John Cornyn historical photos by Bob Daemmrich.    The year is in the file name.   

This was taken in the House chamber in 1993. 

Left to right,  Justice CRAIG ENOCH, Justice JOHN CORNYN, Justice NATHAN HECHT, Justice RAUL GONZALEZ, Justice TOM PHILLIPS, Justice JACK HIGHTOWER

From Left: Texas Supreme Court Justices Craig Enoch, (now U.S. Sen.) John Cornyn, Hecht, Raul Gonzalez, Tom Philips and Jack Hightower in the Texas House chamber in 1993.

Political changes

Hecht’s reforms

Hecht is sworn into office by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in the House Chamber on Nov. 11, 2013. Hecht's sister Helen is holding the Sam Houston Bible.

What comes next

Supreme Court of Texas Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht  laughs during a Q & A  after hearing two a civil cases at the University of Houston Law Center at in the Danny M. Sheena Courtroom at the John. M. O’Quinn Law Building, Tuesday, October 29, 2024, in Houston.The Court travels twice per year to hold oral arguments in different areas of the state.

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Courts Politics State government Nathan L. Hecht Texas Supreme Court