A buzzing crowd of fellow judges, current and former law clerks, longtime friends, and admiring faculty gathered in Texas Law’s Sheffield Massey Room this week to celebrate the Hon. Royce Lamberth ’67, a giant of the federal bench.
The occasion was the unveiling of a new photographic portrait of the judge, commissioned by the law school, that will hang in a gallery of distinguished alumni on the law school’s main floor. The photograph was taken by Stephen Voss.
Lamberth, who is a senior judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, as well as a visiting judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, in San Antonio, joined Dean Bobby Chesney in speaking at the ceremony and presenting the new portrait to the assembled guests. The event capped a week of activity for the judge in Austin, first being recognized by the Texas Law Review Association with its highest honor, The Leon Green Award, and later visiting with the Tarlton Law librarians working on creating an archive of the judge’s collected papers.
“I deeply appreciate this honor,” said Lamberth. “I am so inspired by the many kind words from so many friends.”
Among those on hand to recognize Lamberth were Judges Robert Pitman ’88, Lee Yeakel ’69, Miguel Torres ’95, David Ezra, and Henry Bemporad. In addition, a group of Lamberth’s former clerks came to toast their one-time boss.
“Like anyone who has clerked for Judge Lamberth, I have witnessed firsthand the ingenuity, empathy, and candor that has made him into the phenomenal jurist that he is today,” said Jason Onyediri ’23, who clerked for Lamberth during the 2023-24 term. “I am beyond thrilled to know that Judge Lamberth’s continuing legacy will forever be commemorated at Texas Law.”
Read our in-depth interview with Judge Royce Lamberth, “On the rule of law,” as told to Thomas Rielly ’25 for the Fall 2024 issue of Texas Law Magazine.
Portrait Unveiling Photos on Flickr
