Ceremony to be held October 21 at the Crystal Ballroom at The Rice in Houston
The Center for American and International Law (CAIL) will present its Great Leaders Award to the Honorable Nathan L. Hecht on October 21, 2025, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to the law, the judiciary, and the cause of justice over a four-decade career on the bench.
The award will be presented at a luncheon held at the Crystal Ballroom at The Rice in Houston, and will include a fireside chat with Chief Justice Hecht, offering reflections on his leadership, legacy, and impact on the legal profession.
Chief Justice Hecht served on the Supreme Court of Texas for 35 years, the longest tenure in the Court’s history, and more than a decade as chief justice. A nationally recognized jurist, Chief Justice Hecht is known for advancing judicial modernization, safeguarding the independence of the judiciary, and championing access to civil legal services for underserved populations.
About the Great Leaders Award
Established in 1962 by the Trustees of the Southwestern Legal Foundation, CAIL’s Great Leaders Award honors an American citizen “whose inspiring leadership, vision, and judgment have contributed to the welfare of the world, our nation, and our community, and to the happiness and dignity of the individual, in accord with the great traditions of the administration of justice under law.”
Past recipients include Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr., Watergate Special Prosecutor Leon Jaworski, U.S. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, and most recently, U.S. Senator and Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison.
Event Details
- Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
- Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- Location: Crystal Ballroom at The Rice, 909 Texas Avenue, Houston, TX
- Sponsorship opportunities are currently available
Chief Justice Hecht’s impact on the legal profession extends far beyond Texas. As the longest-serving justice on the Supreme Court of Texas in its history, he participated in more than 2,700 oral arguments and authored or joined over 700 opinions shaping civil jurisprudence.
As Chief Justice, he led the implementation of statewide e-filing, championed pandemic-era virtual court proceedings, and advocated for reforms to improve the efficiency and fairness of the legal system. He also served as president of the Conference of Chief Justices and held leadership roles in national legal organizations, including the American Law Institute and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Proceeds from the event support CAIL’s mission to advance the rule of law and improve the administration of justice. Funds raised will provide scholarships for law enforcement leadership training and support global access to legal education through programs such as the Academy of American and International Law.
"CAIL's Great Leaders Award is the Center's most prestigious award reserved for extraordinary individuals,” said Randall M. Ebner, Chair of CAIL’s board of trustees. “Chief Justice Hecht represents the best of the best of such uniquely qualified individuals as demonstrated by his decades of continued peerless, visionary and inspirational leadership throughout Texas, nationally and beyond defending the principles underlying the rule of law and promoting access to justice for all."
For more information about this event or about becoming a sponsor, please contact advancement@cailaw.org.
###
About The Center for American and International Law - Founded in 1947, The Center for American and International Law (CAIL) is a nonprofit institution based in Plano, Texas, dedicated to advancing justice and promoting the rule of law through the professional development of legal and law enforcement practitioners worldwide. Today, CAIL's educational institutes have established internationally recognized forums and programs addressing law enforcement administration, energy law, international and comparative law, transnational arbitration, law and technology, criminal justice, and other relevant topics. Visit www.cailaw.org to learn more.
Media Contact
Karla Lárraga, Communications Officer
(972) 244-3436 | klarraga@cailaw.org