Greg Abbott to appoint general counsel to replace Don Willett

November 27, 2017

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday that he will appoint Jimmy Blacklock, the governor’s general counsel, to replace Don Willett on the Texas Supreme Court once Willett is confirmed to the federal bench. 

Willett was nominated in September to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, and he is expected to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate in the coming weeks. 

“We need justices with a conservative judicial philosophy who will apply the Constitution as it was intended rather than basing their opinions on their own personal agenda,” Abbott said at a news conference in Austin. Blacklock, Abbott promised, will be a “conservative vote on the court.”  

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Blacklock has served as general counsel for Abbott since the governor took office in 2015. Before that, he worked for Abbott in the attorney general’s office.  

Once appointed by Abbott, Blacklock would still have to run for re-election next year to Willett’s Place 2 seat. Abbott promised Monday that he will campaign for Blacklock to make sure he secures a full term on the court. 

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2017/11/27/abbott-appoint-general-counsel-replace-willett/.

The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.