I’m sorry to report that former Chief Justice Joe Greenhill, a fixture of the Texas appellate bar, passed away this morning. He was 96.

He served on the Supreme Court of Texas from 1957 to 1982, the last 10 of those years as Chief Justice. Since 1982, he had been in private practice in Austin.

The Court’s website contains this In Memoriam announcement, which contains a few colorful details.

You also can read a short biography on the UT Law School website or this longer biography from the American Inns of Court.