Bill Text: TX HR466 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of attorney and criminal justice advocate Jeff Blackburn.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-03-17 - Reported enrolled [HR466 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR466-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 466 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Admired attorney Jeff Blackburn died on February 7, | ||
| 2023, at the age of 65, bringing a great loss to his family, his | ||
| friends, and the legal community; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Blackburn was born on May 1, 1957, in Amarillo; | ||
| he earned his law degree from the University of Houston and | ||
| subsequently began practicing law in his hometown in 1983; in 1988, | ||
| he became board certified as a specialist in criminal law; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Throughout his exemplary career, Mr. Blackburn | ||
| worked tirelessly representing the poor and disadvantaged in | ||
| criminal and civil rights cases across the State of Texas, and he | ||
| also spearheaded a number of significant criminal justice reform | ||
| efforts in Texas; two of his most celebrated cases were the Tulia | ||
| Drug Bust of 1999, where he secured the pardon of 38 defendants, and | ||
| the posthumous exoneration of Tim Cole, who had been falsely | ||
| convicted and died in prison; in 2006, he founded the Innocence | ||
| Project of Texas and served as its chief counsel until 2015; in | ||
| recognition of his many accomplishments, he received a multitude of | ||
| awards, including the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year | ||
| award, the Frank Spurlock Award, and the Warren Burnett Award, and | ||
| he was also honored by numerous civil rights groups, such as the | ||
| American Civil Liberties Union, the National Association for the | ||
| Advancement of Colored People, the League of United Latin American | ||
| Citizens, and the Texas Civil Rights Project; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Blackburn eventually moved to New Mexico with | ||
| his partner, Jessy Tyler, and while there, he created the Rio Grande | ||
| Regional Justice Project; in his free time, he enjoyed traveling, | ||
| reading, organic farming, listening to good music, and engaging in | ||
| great conversation; moreover, he was a devoted father to his two | ||
| sons, Sam and John; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Jeff Blackburn was a powerful advocate for his | ||
| clients and for criminal justice reform, and although he will be | ||
| greatly missed by those he left behind, they will forever remember | ||
| his dedication, his generosity, and his passion for life; now, | ||
| therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Jeff Blackburn and | ||
| extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his | ||
| sons, Sam and his wife, Scotney, and John; to his grandchildren, | ||
| Archer and Oliver; to his partner, Jessy Tyler; and to the many | ||
| others who mourn his passing; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of | ||
| Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Jeff | ||
| Blackburn. | ||
| Dutton | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 466 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on March 16, 2023. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
