Biography

Nathan Hecht is a partner in Jackson Walker’s Litigation practice group in Austin. As former Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, Nathan brings to Jackson Walker a distinguished judicial career spanning more than four decades, marked by his unwavering commitment to the rule of law, access to justice, and the modernization of Texas courts.

Nathan’s tenure on the Supreme Court of Texas is unparalleled. He served on the Court for 36 years – longer than any other justice in the Court’s history – before retiring on December 31, 2024.

Nathan authored 7,000 pages of opinions and heard more than 2,700 oral arguments during his tenure. He led the Court’s efforts to expand access to civil legal services for Texans of limited means and oversaw significant revisions to the rules of administration, practice, and procedure in 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.

Before his judicial service, Nathan was a partner in a Dallas law firm, clerked for Judge Roger Robb of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

Education

B.A., with honors, Yale University

J.D., cum laude, SMU Dedman School of Law

Bar Admissions

Texas