H.R. No. 466

	R E S O L U T I O N
	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