‘Judicial Icon’ Chief Justice Jack Pope Dies at 103

© 2017 The Texas Lawbook.

By Osler McCarthy of the Texas Supreme Court

AUSTIN – (Feb. 25) – Retired Texas Chief Justice Jack Pope, who helped establish formal judicial education for Texas judges, fought for a voluntary judicial-ethics code when judges had none and fought again to make that code mandatory and enforceable, died Saturday at 103. He served Texas for 38 years as a district court judge, court of appeals justice and on the Supreme Court, the last two as chief justice.
 
His judicial tenure, as a whole, was the longest of any Texas Supreme Court justice.
 
“Chief Justice Jack Pope was a judicial icon,” Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht said. “His hard work, scholarship, common sense, humor, and integrity are legendary. No Texas judge has ever been more committed to serving the rule of law and the cause of justice. He was my mentor, role model, counselor, and most especially, my friend. Texas has lost a great, great man.”