Jefferson will continue his appellate practice while leading the nation's most respected independent organization dedicated to clarifying, modernizing, and improving the law

Alexander Dubose Jefferson LLP proudly congratulates partner and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas Wallace B. Jefferson on his election as President of the American Law Institute (ALI), the nation’s leading independent nonprofit organization that publishes Restatements of the Law, Principles of the Law, and Model Codes to further its mission to promote the better administration of justice. Jefferson will be formally installed at ALI's Annual Meeting in May 2026 and will continue his appellate practice with the firm.

"Wallace brings to ALI a rare combination of intellectual depth, practical wisdom, and a lifelong commitment to justice,” said Marcy Hogan Greer, the firm's managing partner and an ALI member. "His service on the Supreme Court, his advocacy for clients, and his leadership roles in state and national organizations have always reflected ALI’s highest purpose: to make the law fair, accessible, and grounded in reason. We are honored to support him in this new role.”

Jefferson expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by the Institute’s governing Council. "I am deeply humbled by this opportunity,” Jefferson said. "For more than a century, the American Law Institute has strengthened the foundations of our legal system through careful research, spirited deliberation, and a steadfast commitment to the public good. I look forward to working with the extraordinary lawyers, judges, and scholars who volunteer their time to improve the administration of justice.”

Honoring David F. Levi’s Legacy of Service

Jefferson also paid tribute to outgoing ALI President David F. Levi, the former Dean of Duke Law School and United States District Judge, who has led ALI since 2017.

"Judge David Levi has guided ALI with wisdom, patience, and an unwavering belief in the power of law to hold our democracy together," Jefferson said. "He reminded us —through his leadership of ALI and at the Bolch Judicial Institute — that consensus is possible, even on difficult questions, when people of good will gather together to listen, learn, and reason together. David leaves behind a stronger, more resilient organization, and I am profoundly grateful for his mentorship and example.”

A Continuing Texas Tradition of Leadership

Jefferson's election continues a distinguished Texas tradition. He studied under the legendary University of Texas law professor Charles Alan Wright, who also served as ALI President from 1994 to 2000.

"To follow in Professor Wright's footsteps is an honor I could never have envisioned as a young student in his classroom," Jefferson said.

A Personal Journey Rooted in Service and Hope

Jefferson's path reflects the values instilled by his late parents, William Douglas Jefferson, a U.S. Air Force major and longtime community servant, and Joyce Virginia Jefferson, an actor and director who championed community theater. His father’s genealogical research uncovered the family's connection to Shedrick Willis, born into slavery and later a respected public leader who served on the Waco City Council after the Civil War. Jefferson has often described his lineage as a reminder of the law’s power to expand opportunity, enhance human dignity, and bridge divides.

Jefferson’s Leadership of ALI

Jefferson’s colleagues believe his presidency will reinforce ALI’s vital role in supporting the rule of law at a time when democratic institutions face new pressures.

"Wallace combines brilliance with humility, courage with kindness. ALI could not have chosen better," said Douglas W. Alexander, a founding partner of the firm and elected member of ALI.

"He's still actively engaged in representing clients in state and federal appellate courts on a daily basis,” added Kevin Dubose, firm co-founder and former President of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. “That real-world perspective will be invaluable as Wallace leads the ALI in its efforts to clarify, modernize, and improve the law.”

About Alexander Dubose & Jefferson

Alexander Dubose & Jefferson provides a modern, collaborative approach to litigation and appeals, combining deep appellate experience with strategic trial support. With offices in Austin, Dallas, and Houston, the firm’s lawyers include a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, a former Justice of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Houston, several former staff attorneys, law clerks, and professors. The firm holds a Band 1 ranking from Chambers USA and has multiple attorneys recognized among America’s leading lawyers.

Learn more at https://www.adjtlaw.com.

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"Wallace brings to ALI a rare combination of intellectual depth, practical wisdom, and a lifelong commitment to justice."