Jimmy Blacklock named new chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court

Gov. Greg Abbott elevated Texas Supreme Court Justice Jimmy Blacklock to chief justice on Jan. 6, 2025. Abbott then appointed his general counsel James Sullivan to the Supreme Court. (Credit: Douglas Sweet Jr. for The Texas Tribune)

---

Justice Jimmy Blacklock, a conservative ally of Gov. Greg Abbott, has been named the new chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court. He replaces Nathan Hecht, the court’s longest serving justice, who stepped down at the end of December due to the mandatory judicial retirement age.