Governor Abbott Appoints Jimmy Blacklock as Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice

Justice Jimmy Blacklock succeeds Nathan Hecht, with James P. Sullivan filling Blacklock's vacated seat on the state's highest court.

Jimmy Blacklock, a conservative ally of Governor Greg Abbott, has been named Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court following Nathan Hecht's retirement due to the mandatory judicial retirement age of 75.
Blacklock, who has served on the court since 2018, has a background in appellate litigation and was previously Abbott's general counsel and a key figure in Texas' legal challenges to federal policies under the Obama administration.
James P. Sullivan, Abbott's most recent general counsel, has been appointed to fill Blacklock's vacated seat, further solidifying the court's conservative majority.
The Texas Supreme Court, which handles final appeals on civil matters, has become one of the most conservative high courts in the nation under Abbott's influence, issuing rulings on abortion, COVID restrictions, and voter laws.
Both Blacklock and Sullivan will serve terms expiring at the end of 2026, requiring them to run for election to full six-year terms in November of that year.