Texas Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Justice Jimmy Blacklock as the new chief justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, the governor’s office announced Monday. Blacklock’s term will run through December 31, 2026.
Blacklock, a Houston native, has served on the Texas Supreme Court since January 2018. Prior to his appointment to the court, he clerked for Judge Jerry Smith on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and practiced civil litigation and appeals in Houston and Austin. Blacklock also served as general counsel for Governor Abbott and spent six years in the Texas Attorney General’s Office, working on cases involving the Affordable Care Act, religious liberty, and “right to life” issues.
Blacklock holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.
The appointment comes as Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht retires after a historic 36-year tenure on the court, the longest in the state’s history. Hecht, who served as chief justice since 2013, is widely regarded for his judicial leadership and commitment to the rule of law.
“I am grateful to Governor Abbott for this appointment and for his leadership of our great state,” Blacklock said in a statement. “Chief Justice Hecht leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of service to the Court and to the People of Texas. I join all my colleagues in thanking him and honoring him for his wisdom and his leadership over the years. The Supreme Court of Texas belongs to the People of Texas, not to the judges or the lawyers. Our job at the Court is to apply the law fairly and impartially to every case that comes before us.”
In addition to Blacklock’s appointment, Abbott also named James P. Sullivan to serve as a justice on the state’s highest court.
Governor Abbott will officially swear in Blacklock as chief justice during a private ceremony on Tuesday. Blacklock emphasized his commitment to defending the rule of law and pursuing equal justice for all Texans, saying, “My colleagues and I are committed to defending the rule of law and to preserving our Texas and United States Constitutions. I look forward to helping the Court continue to pursue equal justice under the law for all Texans.”
