Former Texas Chief Justice Hecht to Address Judicial Independence at 2026 Sondock Lecture at UH Law Center
Summary: Former Texas Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht will deliver the 2026 Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Jurist-in-Residence Lectureship in Legal Ethics at the University of Houston Law Center on April 15. The event will also celebrate the 100th birthday of Justice Ruby Kless Sondock.
Key Takeaways
- Nathan L. Hecht will headline the 2026 Sondock Lecture at UH Law Center.
- The lecture will focus on judicial independence and legal ethics.
- The event will also celebrate Justice Ruby Kless Sondock’s 100th birthday.
April 13, 2026 – Nathan L. Hecht, 27th chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, will deliver the 2026 Justice Ruby Kless Sondock Jurist-in-Residence Lectureship in Legal Ethics at the University of Houston Law Center.
Hecht, who retired in 2024, is a partner at Jackson Walker and a distinguished judicial fellow at the New York University School of Law. His lecture, “Whose Side Are You on Judge, Ours or Theirs? Judicial Independence in a Riven Civitas,” is set for 4:30 p.m. April 15.
Law Center Dean Leonard M. Baynes said the Sondock Jurist-in-Residence program brings outstanding jurists to campus for the lecture and to meet with UHLC faculty, alumni and students. “These interactions will bring the Law Center community closer to the bench so we can learn from each other,” he said. “It also will help inspire our students to be the next generation of outstanding jurists.”
Hecht oversaw revisions to the rules of administration, practice and procedure in Texas courts and was appointed by the chief justice of the United States to the federal Advisory Committee on Civil Rules. He also led in the court’s efforts to assure that low-income Texans have access to basic civil legal services.
The Jurist-In-Residence program honors Sondock, who graduated as valedictorian and one of just five women in the UH law school class of 1962. She became the first female state district court judge in Harris County when she was appointed to the bench in 1977. She was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court in 1982, making her the first woman to serve in a regular session of the court.
The Law Center will also celebrate Sondock’s 100th birthday, later this month, at the event.
Event Details
What: Nathan L. Hecht, 27th chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, will 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. Wednesday, April 15. A reception follows at 5:30 p.m.
For more information and to register, please visit https://www.law.uh.edu/jurist/
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is speaking at the 2026 Sondock Lecture?
Nathan L. Hecht, former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, will deliver the lecture.
When is the 2026 Sondock Lecture at UH Law Center?
The lecture is set for 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, with a reception following at 5:30 p.m.
What is the topic of the lecture?
Hecht’s lecture is titled “Whose Side Are You on Judge, Ours or Theirs? Judicial Independence in a Riven Civitas” and focuses on judicial independence.
Where will the Sondock Lecture take place?
The event will take place at the John M. O'Quinn Law Building at the UH Law Center and will also be available online.
