Court History - Since 1945

The Supreme Court of Texas

James P. Alexander (September 21, 1945, to January 1, 1948):

Alexander was elected as chief justice in November 1940, before the 1945 amendment, and re-elected in 1946. Died in office in January 1, 1948.

J. E. Hickman (January 7, 1948, to January 3, 1961):

Appointed in January 1948 by Governor Beauford H. Jester to fill Alexander's vacancy. Elected in November 1948 and re-elected in November 1954. Retired in January 1961.

Robert W. Calvert (January 3, 1961, to October 4, 1972):

Elected in November 1960 and re-elected in November 1966. Retired in October 1972.

Joe R. Greenhill (October 4, 1972, to October 25, 1982):

Appointed in October 1972 by Governor Preston Smith to fill Calvert's vacancy. Elected in November 1972 and re-elected in November 1978. Retired in October 1982. Greenhill joined the Court after appointment in October 1957.

Jack Pope (November 29, 1982, to January 4, 1985):

Appointed in November 1982 by Governor William P. Clements to fill Greenhill's vacancy. Retired in January 1985. Pope served as a justice after election to the Court in November 1964.

John L. Hill Jr. (January 5, 1985, to January 4, 1988):

Elected in November 1984. Resigned in January 1988.

Thomas R. Phillips (January 4, 1988, to September 3, 2004):

Appointed in November 1987 by Governor William P. Clements to fill Hill's vacancy. Elected in November 1988 to fill Hill's unexpired term and re-elected in November 1990, November 1996 and November 2002. Retired in September 2004.

Wallace B. Jefferson (September 20, 2004, to present):

Appointed September 14, 2004, by Governor Rick Perry to fill Phillips' vacancy. Appointed to the Court in Place 4 in March 2001 by Perry to complete former Justice Al Gonzales' unexpired term. Chief Justice Jefferson was elected in 2006 to finish the remaining two years of Phillips' term, then re-elected in 2008 to a full term. (Term ends in 2014.).

Updated: 25-Jul-2011