Hon. Linda Thomas (Ret.) on Leadership, Legacy and Lifting Others: A JAMS Q&A Session

What motivated you to share your story in the “A Law Unto Themselves: How Women Lawyers of Dallas Transformed Law and Community – Together” documentary?

I was drawn to this project because I felt that there are at least two generations of young female attorneys in Dallas who were not familiar with three of the Dallas legends. As I stated in the film—and as highlighted in the opening remarks of the documentary—all Dallas women attorneys stand on the shoulders of Judge Sarah T. Hughes, Louise Raggio and Adelfa Callejo. They kicked open the doors so that women could get a seat at the table. I would say I achieved my goal because their stories permeated throughout the entire documentary. I know that the young women in the audience learned some new things; I learned a great deal myself, even though I knew them for years.

I also wanted to share my story of helping a young African American woman begin her tenure in the state judiciary, Hon. Carolyn Wright-Sanders (Ret.). Judge Wright began her judicial career as an associate judge in 1983, and I was proud to support her for that position. She worked for me and the other six family district judges in Dallas County. In 1985, I decided I was not going to seek reelection to a third term as a district judge. Once I determined I was going to run for the 5th District Court of Appeals, which sits in Dallas, I called Carolyn and strongly urged her to get the necessary paperwork completed so that she would run for the “open bench.” In 1986, I was elected to the Dallas Court of Appeals and she was elected as judge of the 256th District Court.

Later, I again called Carolyn to let her know that she needed to update her resume and renew contacts with the Governor’s Appointments Office. I had decided to run for chief justice of the Court of Appeals, and if I won, there would be a vacancy on the court. I won in November 1994, and Carolyn was appointed in my place.

Finally, I decided to retire in 2009. I told Carolyn that she needed to update that resume again and start seeking the appointment. At my retirement party in October 2009, I was able to announce that my successor would be Hon. Carolyn Wright-Sanders.

As I often tell her, I was her employment agent for more than 26 years.

How did you feel seeing your story on screen for the first time?

Interestingly, I did not focus on my story. I was too busy highlighting our legends and Carolyn. The process, however, proved valuable because it reminded me of my path, which has been quite a journey.

When I was 19 or 20, I went to work as a legal secretary for a small, three-attorney office. The lawyers were young, and they allowed me tremendous discretion in developing a job that met my needs and personality. This was in the late ’60s, and we didn’t know about legal assistants or paralegals. In any event, I soon began interviewing witnesses and doing a number of similar chores. As one of the partners used to say, the firm’s biggest mistake was sending me to the courthouse, because I never came back.

I decided that I wanted to become a lawyer, but I had a major challenge: I did not have a college degree. I set about going to college at night as I worked at the firm during the day. Once I got my undergraduate degree, I started law school during the day and continued to work part time for the firm at night and on the weekends. 

Fast forward to 1978, when I decided I wanted to become a judge. I do not come from a political family and had never participated in politics before 1978. Fortunately, I was courageous enough to think I could be successful in this effort.

I was a young woman with no name recognition. And, at the time, there were only two women on the bench in Dallas County. There had been others, but no candidate had ever promoted the fact that they were female. My political consultants came up with the idea that I would run focusing on my first name, Linda. Having decided to use my first name, we went all in with Linda in bold feminine script. Before I knew it, there were billboards and signs all over Dallas County with “Linda” in bold feminine script. It was the subject of many conversations; some initially wondered what is this new “feminine product?” Since that time, other women have used the same color scheme with their first names, many in bold feminine script.

During my 31 years as a full-time judge, there were many firsts. However, my greatest first is that I was the first female chief justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeals. At the time I became chief, the court had been in existence for 102 years.

What advice would you give to young women lawyers who are just starting out?

Doors have been opened for you. Make sure that the door does not close or somehow get stuck. When you encounter obstacles, consider them as mere challenges that can be overcome or navigated around.

What role did community and support networks play in your success?

Community and support networks played a crucial role in my success. Early in my career, I made a conscious effort to build a new community of support, consisting of colleagues, mentors and friends who shared my vision and values. Many of these individuals remain close friends and supporters to this day.

Throughout my time in the legal field, I have been truly blessed to establish numerous valuable contacts. These relationships provided guidance, encouragement and opportunities that were instrumental in my professional growth. I believe that fostering strong connections and maintaining a network of supportive individuals are essential for anyone looking to succeed in their career. It not only helps in overcoming challenges, but also enriches the journey with meaningful interactions and lasting friendships.

What are some of the significant achievements you are most proud of in your career?

Throughout my career, I focused on continuing legal education. I began by getting involved with State Bar of Texas programs and then judicial education programs. In this role, I attended more program planning committees than I ever thought possible. I made it a priority to recruit individuals from diverse backgrounds to become presenters in State Bar programs as well as judicial education programs. I am proud to say that gone are the days where we would sit for hours and/or days without ever hearing inclusive voices.

I am also very proud of spearheading what is now a career path for legal assistants and paralegals in Texas. I created, with the help of some dynamite women legal assistants, a board specialization program to allow qualified individuals to become board certified in specialty areas. I personally convinced the Texas Supreme Court that this program would increase the professionalism in our state. This was the first time that any non-licensed group was able to become a professional part of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I am also proud to note the program continues to expand specialty areas.

How did you balance your professional and personal lives while advocating for change?

Admittedly, when I was traveling across Texas serving on committees and speaking at conferences, there was not much of a balance. This imbalance became even greater when I was traveling across the country speaking at legal seminars.

Fortunately, I have been blessed with a loving and supportive partner, who is now my spouse.