Gov. Greg Abbott swore in UT alumnus Jimmy Blacklock as chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court on Jan. 7.
The Supreme Court of Texas is the state’s highest authority on civil and constitutional matters. As chief justice, Blacklock will oversee court operations, manage the state’s judicial system and supervise the administrative duties of lower courts across Texas.
Blacklock’s appointment makes him the eighth UT alumnus to serve as chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court. Joshua Blank, research director of the Texas Politics Project, said the University has helped shape the careers of many individuals in the state’s judicial sphere, including four other current members of the Texas Supreme Court.
“In almost all cases, there are legal pipelines, just like there are pipelines in other industries,” Blank said. “If you want to be a justice in Texas … the University of Texas provides the professional connections and networking opportunities needed to move into the political and judicial space.”
Before joining the court as a justice in 2018, Blacklock served as Abbott’s General Counsel and worked in the Texas Attorney General’s Office handling constitutional cases. Blacklock also worked in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division under President George W. Bush and in private legal practice.
Blank said elected justices have to balance staying impartial in their rulings while also running for elected positions. Blacklock said in a press release that he was committed to upholding fairness in all court proceedings and maintaining the integrity of the law.
“The Supreme Court of Texas belongs to the People of Texas, not to the judges or the lawyers,” Blacklock said. “Our job at the Court is to apply the law fairly and impartially to every case that comes before us. 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.”
