The Texas judicial branch, responsible for interpreting state law, once had its center in the Capitol. The Supreme Court met in beautifully designed room on the third floor north wing. The Supreme Court judges presided in a room with plush carpeting, walnut furniture and a drapery and sat behind an elaborately carved bench.
The Supreme Court courtroom also features portraits of past justices, as well as a painting of the first three female court justices. In 1925, Governor Pat Neff appointed Hortense Ward, Nellie Robertson, and Edith Williams to a special Supreme Court to preside over the Johnson v. Darr case, which concerned a land dispute involving the Woodmen of the World, a fraternal organization to which all three sitting male justices belonged. Hortense Ward served as Chief Justice since she had the minimum required seven years’ legal experience to serve on the Supreme Court. The appointment of the three women justices was the first time any woman held a judgeship in a Texas court. At the time, women weren’t even allowed to be considered for juries.
In 1959, the Supreme Court vacated the Capitol for other nearby office space. The 1990s building restoration returned the courtroom to its historic appearance. Preservationists were able to make an exact reproduction of Supreme Court carpeting and the drapery thanks to photographic documentation and textile remnants. The Courtroom now serves as a meeting room.
A fantastic panoramic photo can be found HERE.
