Former Texas Chief Justice Hecht to Address Judicial Independence at 2026 Sondock Lecture at UH Law Center

By Editorial Team

Nathan L. Hecht, the 27th chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, is set to deliver the 2026 Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Jurist-in-Residence Lectureship in Legal Ethics at the University of Houston Law Center. The lecture, titled “Whose Side Are You on Judge, Ours or Theirs? Judicial Independence in a Riven Civitas,” will take place at 4:30 p.m. on April 15.

Hecht, who retired in 2024, currently serves as a partner at Jackson Walker and a distinguished judicial fellow at the New York University School of Law. He played a significant role in overseeing revisions to the rules of administration, practice, and procedure in Texas courts. Additionally, he was appointed by the chief justice of the United States to the federal Advisory Committee on Civil Rules and led efforts to ensure access to basic civil legal services for low-income Texans.

The Sondock Jurist-in-Residence program aims to bring exceptional jurists to the UH Law Center campus for lectures and interactions with faculty, alumni, and students. Law Center Dean Leonard M. Baynes highlighted the importance of these interactions in fostering learning and inspiring the next generation of jurists.

The program honors Justice Ruby Kless Sondock, the first female state district court judge in Harris County and the first woman to serve in a regular session of the Texas Supreme Court. The Law Center will also commemorate Sondock’s 100th birthday later this month during the event.

Event Details:

• What: Nathan L. Hecht to deliver the 2026 Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Jurist-in-Residence Lectureship in Legal Ethics
• Where: The John M. O’Quinn Law Building at the UH Law Center, 4170 Martin Luther King Blvd., Houston, TX 77204. The lecture will also be available online.
• When: 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15. A reception will follow at 5:30 p.m.

For more information and registration, visit UH Law Center’s website.

Media contacts for the event are Carrie Anna Criado, UH Law Center Assistant Dean of Communications and Marketing, at 713-743-2184, [email protected], and Rashda Khan, UHLC Director of Communications, at 713-743-2184, [email protected].

About the University of Houston Law Center: The UHLC is a top-tier law school located in the nation’s 4th largest city, offering Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees. It is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is known for its intellectual activity and educational mission.

About the University of Houston: The University of Houston is a Tier One public research university with a focus on providing world-class education and strategic industry partnerships in the Houston and Gulf Coast Region.