John H. Cayce, Jr.

John H. Cayce was Chief Justice of the Second Court of Appeals from 1995 to 2009. While on the court of appeals, he authored more than 1500 legal opinions and led the court in making reforms that established it as one of the most efficient and respected intermediate appellate courts in the state. In addition to his service on the court of appeals, Judge Cayce was commissioned by the Governor of Texas on two separate occasions to serve as a Justice on the Texas Supreme Court. Following his distinguished judicial service, the members of the faculty of St. Mary’s University School of Law selected Judge Cayce as a recipient of the Rosewood Gavel Award, which has been presented each year since 1958 to “an outstanding judge or justice in recognition of his or her contribution to our system of constitutional democracy.” He now sits as a visiting judge throughout the state and serves as an arbitrator and mediator.