Back in 1989, Nathan Hecht became one of the first Republicans since the Civil War ended to win election to the Texas Supreme Court. He’s been on that august body ever since. Last year, he became chief justice, and on Sunday, Jan. 26, he officially became the longest-serving high court justice in Texas history.

Hecht surpassed the milestone set by the late Joe Greenhill, the former Texas Supreme Court chief justice who served for 25 years and 25 days.