Hon. Ruby Kless Sondock '62
Aug. 24, 2020 - In commemoration of the centennial of the 19th Amendment, Judge Ruby Kless Sondock's legendary career was highlighted by VisitHouston.com. Sondock was co-featured with former Sen. Barbara Jordan.
The article states, "While she may not have set out to become a trailblazer, the Hon. Judge Ruby Kless Sondock managed to excel in a male-dominated profession with grace, dignity, intelligence and courage."
In 1962, Sondock was one of only five women in her graduating class at the Law Center. It is reported that she started law school with the aim of becoming "the best legal secretary in town." She graduated first in her class and was admitted to the Texas bar one year before she graduated from law school. Within only one year of practice, she argued a case before the Texas Supreme Court. After practicing law for twelve years, she was appointed a judge on the Harris County Domestic Relations Court in 1973 becoming the first woman district court judge in Harris County. After serving in this capacity for four years, she was appointed to the 234th District Court again making her the first woman to have that honor.
In 1982, Sondock was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court to serve the unexpired term of a deceased justice. With this appointment, she became the first woman to serve on the Texas Supreme Court in a regular session of the Court. Justice Sondock neither sought election for a full term nor accepted the later nomination to serve the unexpired term of then-retiring Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Joe Greenhill. She returned to the District Court, and ran unopposed. After serving as a judge, Sondock has worked as a successful private mediator in Houston.
Sondock was proclaimed a "Texas Legal Legend" by the litigation section of the State Bar of Texas in 2016.In Sondock's honor, the Law Center hosts the Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Jurist-in-Residence Lectureship in Legal Ethics speaker series.
