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
	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
	______________________________
	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