AUSTIN - Cary Roberts, one of the “giants of the civil justice reform movement,” passed away on Dec. 3 at the age of 55.
The Texas Civil Justice League (TCJL) is mourning Roberts’ passing, writing in a post that he “was a humane and compassionate individual who dedicated his life to education, community service, and assisting youth to make their way in the world.”
Robert’s impact on the political landscape was significant, having managed numerous political campaigns at the local and state levels, and he held key positions in organizations such as TCJL, where he directed the league’s Judicial Education Alliance in the early 1990s, his obituary states.
An award-winning writer and multimedia producer, Roberts returned to TCJL as communications director in 2000, leaving an indelible mark on the organization. His dedication to justice and effective communication also was reflected in an earlier role as director of Legislative Information Services at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, the obituary states.
In the TCJL post, George Christian wrote that he had the great privilege of working with Cary Roberts from the establishment of the Judicial Education Alliance in the early 1990s, throughout his invaluable service to TCJL as communications director for more than a decade in the 2000s, and finally in his capacity as an expert consultant to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform and other civil justice reform organizations and efforts.
“Cary had wide-ranging interests and spoke knowledgeably and fluently on history, philosophy, the arts of government, and many other subjects,” writes Christian. “He was a thoughtful life-long learner who never settled into dogmatic positions or knee-jerk reactions. This quality informed his expertise in policy and political matters and gave him vast insight into the ways and means of the Texas Legislature.
“I will never forget his kindness, sense of humor, wit, and intelligence, no matter the difficulty of the situation or the pressure of the moment. He never got rattled nor lost his sense of proportion. Texas has lost one its best, but he made us all better while we were fortunate enough to have him.”