At the conclusion of the 2026 Annual Meeting, Wallace B. Jefferson began his service as President of The American Law Institute.
Jefferson brings to the role decades of experience as a judge, advocate, and leader within the legal profession, along with a longstanding commitment to ALI and its work. Elected to ALI membership in 2001 and to the Council in 2011, he served as Treasurer from 2014 to 2023 and has contributed to the Institute’s work as an Adviser on multiple projects. As President, he chairs the Executive Committee of the Council and helps guide the direction of the Institute.
Jefferson served on the Supreme Court of Texas from 2001 to 2013, including nearly a decade as Chief Justice. He was the first African American Justice and Chief Justice in the Court’s history and is widely recognized for his commitment to access to justice, judicial administration, and strengthening legal institutions. He also served as President of the Conference of Chief Justices and currently is Co-Chair of the Texas Supreme Court and State Appellate Practice at Alexander Dubose & Jefferson.
Throughout his career, he has emphasized careful deliberation, principled leadership, and the importance of institutions that bring people together across perspectives to improve the law and strengthen public trust.
To mark the beginning of his presidency, ALI recently sat down with Jefferson for a wide-ranging conversation reflecting on the experiences that shaped his path to the law and his vision for the Institute. In the interview, Jefferson shares how an early interest in science evolved into a passion for government and public service, reflects on the lasting influence of former ALI President Charles Alan Wright, and discusses his years as an appellate advocate and Chief Justice of Texas.
He also talked to us about the role he believes the ALI can play at this moment: creating space for rigorous debate, welcoming differing viewpoints in good faith, and advancing work that helps clarify and modernize the law in service of the better administration of justice.