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
Phelan Guerra Murr Phelan Guerra Murr
Phelan Guerra Murr
Allen Guillen Neave Criado Allen Guillen Neave Criado
Allen Guillen Neave Criado
Allison Harless Noble Allison Harless Noble
Allison Harless Noble
Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson
Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson
Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz
Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz
Ashby Harrison Orr Ashby Harrison Orr
Ashby Harrison Orr
Bailes Hayes Ortega Bailes Hayes Ortega
Bailes Hayes Ortega
Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson
Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson
Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul
Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul
Bernal Herrero Perez Bernal Herrero Perez
Bernal Herrero Perez
Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa
Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa
Bonnen Holland Price Bonnen Holland Price
Bonnen Holland Price
Bowers Howard Ramos Bowers Howard Ramos
Bowers Howard Ramos
Bryant Hull Raney Bryant Hull Raney
Bryant Hull Raney
Buckley Hunter Raymond Buckley Hunter Raymond
Buckley Hunter Raymond
Bucy Isaac Reynolds Bucy Isaac Reynolds
Bucy Isaac Reynolds
Bumgarner Jetton Rogers Bumgarner Jetton Rogers
Bumgarner Jetton Rogers
Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose
Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose
Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal
Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal
Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer
Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer
Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline
Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline
Canales Kacal Schofield Canales Kacal Schofield
Canales Kacal Schofield
Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen
Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen
Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr. Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr.
Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr.
Cole Kitzman Shine Cole Kitzman Shine
Cole Kitzman Shine
Collier Klick Slaton Collier Klick Slaton
Collier Klick Slaton
Cook Kuempel Slawson Cook Kuempel Slawson
Cook Kuempel Slawson
Cortez Lalani Smith Cortez Lalani Smith
Cortez Lalani Smith
Craddick Lambert Smithee Craddick Lambert Smithee
Craddick Lambert Smithee
Cunningham Landgraf Spiller Cunningham Landgraf Spiller
Cunningham Landgraf Spiller
Darby Leach Stucky Darby Leach Stucky
Darby Leach Stucky
Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson
Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson
Dean Longoria Talarico Dean Longoria Talarico
Dean Longoria Talarico
DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper
DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper
Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry
Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry
Dutton Lozano Thimesch Dutton Lozano Thimesch
Dutton Lozano Thimesch
Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria
Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria
Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris
Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris
Frazier Martinez Tinderholt Frazier Martinez Tinderholt
Frazier Martinez Tinderholt
Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth
Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth
Garcia Metcalf Troxclair Garcia Metcalf Troxclair
Garcia Metcalf Troxclair
Gates Meyer Turner Gates Meyer Turner
Gates Meyer Turner
Gerdes Meza VanDeaver Gerdes Meza VanDeaver
Gerdes Meza VanDeaver
Geren Moody Vasut Geren Moody Vasut
Geren Moody Vasut
Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo
Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo
Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle
Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle
González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson
González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson
González of El Paso Morrison Wu González of El Paso Morrison Wu
González of El Paso Morrison Wu
Goodwin Muñoz, Jr. Zwiener Goodwin Muñoz, Jr. Zwiener
Goodwin Muñoz, Jr. Zwiener
______________________________
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
Phelan Guerra Murr
Allen Guillen Neave Criado
Allison Harless Noble
Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson
Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz
Ashby Harrison Orr
Bailes Hayes Ortega
Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson
Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul
Bernal Herrero Perez
Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa
Bonnen Holland Price
Bowers Howard Ramos
Bryant Hull Raney
Buckley Hunter Raymond
Bucy Isaac Reynolds
Bumgarner Jetton Rogers
Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose
Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal
Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer
Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline
Canales Kacal Schofield
Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen
Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr.
Cole Kitzman Shine
Collier Klick Slaton
Cook Kuempel Slawson
Cortez Lalani Smith
Craddick Lambert Smithee
Cunningham Landgraf Spiller
Darby Leach Stucky
Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson
Dean Longoria Talarico
DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper
Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry
Dutton Lozano Thimesch
Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria
Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris
Frazier Martinez Tinderholt
Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth
Garcia Metcalf Troxclair
Gates Meyer Turner
Gerdes Meza VanDeaver
Geren Moody Vasut
Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo
Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle
González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson
González of El Paso Morrison Wu
Goodwin Muñoz, Jr. Zwiener