Wallace B. Jefferson ’88, former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas and now a partner at the boutique litigation firm Alexander Dubose Jefferson in Austin and Dallas, will serve as the next president of the American Law Institute, the country’s leading independent organization producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize, and improve the law.
During his historic tenure on the Texas bench, Jefferson led the charge on a wide range of transformative initiatives, including leading the state Supreme Court’s efforts to fund access to justice programs; spearheading juvenile justice reforms; and inaugurating Texas’s first statewide electronic filing system for its courts. He also served as president of the Conference of Chief Justices, an association representing the 50 states and U.S. territories.
“I have known Wallace Jefferson for many years, including when he was the chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, and have long admired his judgment, his generosity of spirit, and his deep respect for the law,” said Jeffrey S. Sutton, chair of ALI’s Nominating Committee, in the ALI announcement of Jefferson’s new appointment. “He is a natural leader: thoughtful, fair-minded, and devoted to the institutions that sustain our legal system. Wallace understands what makes ALI special, and he brings both the wisdom and temperament needed to guide the Institute in the years ahead.”
In May, Jefferson will succeed David F. Levi, dean and professor emeritus of Duke University School of Law.
“I am profoundly grateful for the confidence my colleagues have placed in me,” Jefferson said in the announcement. The ALI “has long stood for careful deliberation, independence, and respect for the rule of law. It has been one of the great privileges of my professional life to work alongside so many dedicated members and leaders of the Institute. David Levi’s extraordinary leadership has inspired all of us to aim higher in service to the law and our country. I am eager to carry that spirit forward, collaborating closely with the council, the director, and our membership to advance ALI’s mission and promote the better administration of justice.”
The appointment marks a special kind of achievement for Texas Law—Jefferson will be working alongside ALI’s director, The Hon. Diane P. Wood ’75.
“Wallace has been a valued colleague and friend for decades, and his leadership has already left a meaningful mark on ALI,” said Wood in the press release. “He brings a rare combination of intellectual rigor, practical experience, and genuine humility. Wallace listens carefully, builds consensus thoughtfully, and cares deeply about the role of law in a democratic society. The Institute will benefit enormously from his steady hand and principled leadership.”
A Texas Law Tradition
Jefferson and Wood’s joint leadership continues a long tradition of Texas Law faculty members and alumni playing major roles at ALI. Jefferson himself has served as its treasurer from 2014 to 2023 and was an adviser on the Restatement Third, Consumer Contracts project. He currently serves as an adviser on the Restatement of Election Litigation and the Principles of High-Volume Civil Adjudication projects.
Ward Farnsworth, who served as dean of the School of Law from 2012 to 2022, was reporter during that period for the ALI’s Restatement Third, Torts: Liability for Economic Harm. The late former dean and president of The University of Texas at Austin, Bill Powers, served as an ALI reporter for the Third Restatement of Torts. Retired faculty member Andrew Kull was reporter for Restatement Third: Restitution and Unjust Enrichment, which was completed in 2010. And longtime faculty member Charles Alan Wright was the ALI’s president from 1993-2000.
In addition, current Professors Linda Mullenix, Charles Silver, and Jay Westbook have held major roles on ALI projects. In total, 29 Texas Law faculty are members of the ALI.