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Jimmy Blacklock

Jimmy Blacklock

Republican Incumbent

Candidate for Texas Supreme Court, Chief Justice

About

Republican Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, appointed by Governor Greg Abbott in January 2025. Has served as an Associate Justice on the Texas Supreme Court since 2018. General Counsel to Governor Greg Abbott (2015–2018). Texas Attorney General’s Office (2009-2015). U.S. Department of Justice (2008-2009). Deacon at Tarrytown Christian Church.
Campaign Website Campaign Contributions Party Platform

Conservative Endorsements

Candidate Videos

The Supreme Court & His Judicial Philosophy
Blacklock on Federalism
What Is the Role of Government?
2026 Texas GOP Convention

Survey Responses

Fort Worth Star Telegram (2024)

Notable Quotes

“The Texas Supreme Court has repeatedly held that Originalism, not Living Constitutionalism, is the right way to interpret our Constitution.”
“Our goal when interpreting the Texas Constitution is to give effect to the plain meaning of the text as it was understood by those who ratified it.”

Positions on Texas Eagle Forum Legislative Priorities

Border Security & Immigration
  • SUPPORTED TIGHTER BAIL RULES ILLEGAL MIGRANTS and for people accused of violent or sexual crimes in his February 2025 State of the Judiciary address.[1][2][3]
Secure Our Elections
  • STATED THAT HOUSE MEMBERS FLEEING TEXAS TO BLOCK VOTING LEGISLATION may be compelled to attend sessions by the Texas House according to the Texas Constitution in a 2021 majority case opinion.[1]
  • DEFENDED TEXAS VOTER ID LAWS in the Texas Attorney General's Office (2011).[1][2][3][4]
Gender Issues
  • JOINED THE MAJORITY IN UPHOLDING THE TEXAS BAN on certain medical treatments for children aimed at transitioning biological sex, and wrote a concurrence joined by Justice Devine (State v. Loe, 2024).[1][2]
Protect Life
  • DEFENDED TEXAS ABORTION LAWS in the Attorney General’s office and concurred on the Texas Supreme Court on cases that upheld Texas abortion laws.[1][2][3]
Islamification of Texas
  • REFUSED TO DEFER TO ISLAMIC LAW PROCEDURES in cases of divorce in Texas by joining the Texas Supreme Court opinions requiring submission to Texas law.[1][2]
Other Constitutional Issues
  • BELIEVES IN ORIGINAL INTENT and has authored more than 100 opinions emphasizing textualism and original meaning of the Texas and U.S. Constitutions.[1][2][3]
  • STATED THAT CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT MUST NOT BE ABANDONED IN EMERGENCIES in a 2023 opinion relating to the COVID lockdowns. Wrote a 2023 essay, “The Constitution after Covid," arguing that courts should apply strict scrutiny to pandemic measures that burden enumerated rights (free exercise, assembly) and noted that Texans later amended their constitution to forbid government limits on religious services.[1][2][3]
  • COMMITTED TO FIGHTING AGAINST FEDERAL ENCROACHMENT and defending our constitutional liberties.[1]
  • SUPPORTED THE SECOND AMENDMENT in his 2025 State of the Judiciary speech, stating, “The only thing that can stop a bad man with a gun who means to do evil is a good man with a gun who means to do justice.”[1]

Notes from Local Researchers

  • The State Bar of Texas 2026 Judicial Poll, a preference survey of Texas lawyers, ranked Jimmy Blacklock first in the Supreme Court Chief Justice race with 1,678 votes.[1]