Jackson Walker partner and former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht was featured in Law360, where he shared insights on his transition from a distinguished judicial career to private practice, his steadfast commitment to access to justice, and his dedication to mentoring the next generation of legal professionals.

After decades on the bench, Justice Hecht now focuses his efforts on advising clients, guiding young attorneys, and championing access to justice. He remains a vocal proponent of pro bono work and active involvement with legal aid organizations. He highlights the significant issue of unrepresented parties in civil cases and supports initiatives to make legal education and services more accessible, especially in underserved communities.

In the article, Justice Hecht stated, “The data is not perfect, but the 2023 numbers I’ve got show that some 30,000 state judges across the country resolved 20 million civil cases that year, and in three-fourths of those cases, one or both parties was not represented by a lawyer. That’s 15 million cases. So I continue to advise young lawyers to get involved with pro bono or legal aid work.”

In addition to his advocacy work, Justice Hecht addresses the evolving role of technology in law, noting its potential to streamline legal aid processes and assist with routine tasks. While Justice Hecht misses the collegiality and intellectual rigor of the court, he remains actively engaged in shaping the legal field through mentorship, advocacy, and thoughtful consideration of new technologies.

To read the full Law360 article, visit “Retired Texas Chief Justice On Settling In At Jackson Walker.”

Meet Chief Justice Hecht

Nathan L. Hecht is a partner in Jackson Walker’s Litigation practice group in Austin. As former Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, he brings over four decades of judicial experience, including a record 36 years on the Court. During his tenure, Nathan authored 7,000 pages of opinions, heard more than 2,700 oral arguments, and led efforts to expand access to justice and modernize Texas courts. Nationally, he served on the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules of the Judicial Conference of the United States and was the longest-serving president of the Conference of Chief Justices.