In an early celebration of Veterans Day, South Texas College of Law Houston hosted Supreme Court of Texas Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht for a discussion about his service as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Navy Reserve and about the importance of the U.S. Military in protecting our freedoms as a nation.
“In their service across all branches of the military, veterans have contributed in a very special way to the life of our country,” Hecht said. “We are fortunate to live in a country that not only honors the military, but that has built a military designed to preserve and protect the freedoms we enjoy every day. There is great respect and honor for veterans in our country these days, and that’s a very good thing.”
Hecht noted the importance of incorporating that respect and high esteem into the legal system itself, and he suggested to the auditorium filled with law students that they can do so in two ways. First of all, he challenged the law students to be the best possible advocates for their clients, always displaying the highest integrity. By so doing, those who think of attorneys will recall their ethics and professionalism.
Second, Hecht noted, when the students become practicing attorneys, they should become involved in the Bar, to help shape the legal profession, and in pro bono service, to help ensure access to justice.
He noted that the Texas judiciary — with the support of the two other branches of government — has been proactive in trying to provide additional legal services for people living in poverty. Unfortunately, Hecht said many veterans fall into that category, which he described as “sorrowful.”
Hecht praised officials in Texas for being supportive of funding for legal aid for veterans, of which South Texas Law has been a beneficiary. The law school, through its Randall O. Sorrels Legal Clinics, has been a significant provider of free legal services for more than 30 years — and a good portion of the grant funding for the legal clinics comes through the Texas Access to Justice Foundation (a nonprofit founded by the Texas Supreme Court in 1984 to administer funds for legal services for the poor).
South Texas Law President and Dean Michael F. Barry, whose father was an attorney and judge in the U.S. Coast Guard, linked service in the military to service in the legal profession. “Both expect us to live values of service, integrity, honor, and duty,” Barry said. “And both serve ideals – the rule of law and our democratic principles – that are greater than any one of us individually. We all play a vital role in maintaining our way of life.”
Vanessa Botello, president of the Veteran Law Students Association (VLSA) at South Texas Law, said, “Veterans Day honors the diverse backgrounds of our veterans from all walks of life who have served in a variety of roles. They have a wide range of skills, talents, and expertise that strengthen our country. Veterans Day is not just about the past; it’s about the present and the future, and it’s our duty to support our veterans once they complete their service. We owe them a huge thank-you.”
Wednesday’s event was co-sponsored by the VLSA and the Federalist Society at South Texas.
For more photos from the event, click here: Veterans Day 2023 – Justice Hecht
