Board Certified in Criminal Law
Licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas, United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, United State Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
Arrested? Hire board-certified criminal law specialist Jacob Blizzard. Representing individuals accused of any state or federal crime, as well as appeals and post-conviction writs of habeas corpus.
MARK OF EXCELLENCE
Board certification is a mark of excellence and a distinguishing accomplishment. Within the Texas legal community, board certification means an attorney has substantial, relevant experience in a select field of law, as well as demonstrated and tested special competence in that area of law.
A DISTINGUISHED FEW
Mr. Blizzard is 1 of only 5 criminal law board-certified attorneys in Taylor County. As of the 2016 certification year, there were 255 attorneys practicing in Taylor County, and only 5 were board certified in criminal law. That's less than 2%! In Texas, there are more than 100,000 attorneys licensed to practice, but only 7,450 are board certified.
Mr. Blizzard regularly practices in the areas of criminal defense, criminal appeals, and personal injury. He is valued by his clients for taking the time needed to give personal attention to their legal issues. Mr. Blizzard's knowledge and experience are applied to each client's case. He invests the time and effort that each client deserves in order to look at each situation with care and conduct an in-depth analysis of the facts and legal issues involved.
PERSONAL ATTENTION
Mr. Blizzard knows that clients want an attorney on their side who cares about their issues. Knowing how important personal attention is to a case, Mr. Blizzard has made it his personal commitment to dedicate his practice to helping individuals on a personal level, giving attention to specific legal needs.
EXPERIENCE
Mr. Blizzard has tried numerous jury trials on many issues of criminal law and civil cases. Mr. Blizzard is dedicated to developing a winning strategy in every case to achieve the best possible outcome for each case and client. In his practice, Mr. Blizzard has represented clients in criminal cases at all levels from the lowest Class C traffic tickets to first-degree felonies involving serious allegations like drug possession with intent to deliver, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, sexual assault, and murder.
Mr. Blizzard also has authored numerous briefs in state and federal courts of appeals. This practice has included direct appeal following a conviction, petition for discretionary review to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and post-conviction writs of habeas corpus under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 11.07. Mr. Blizzard has also argued his cases in oral argument before the Court of Appeals.
Prior to becoming a founding partner at Blizzard & Zimmerman Attorneys, Mr. Blizzard:
Practiced as solo practitioner under the name The Blizzard Law Firm, also in Abilene, TX
Practiced as the managing partner of Parker & Blizzard, P.L.L.C in a partnership with Quanah Parker
Worked in an insurance defense law firm representing large national insurance companies
Worked in criminal prosecution
Worked with the attorney general of Texas, child support division
Worked with the U.S. Attorney's office
EDUCATION
Texas Tech University School of Law
Doctor of Jurisprudence, cum laude
Dean's List, four semesters
Participant in criminal prosecution clinic
Article's editor, Administrative Law Journal
University of Houston - Bachelor of Arts, Political Science/Economics
Howard Payne University - member of Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom Honors College
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:
2016 Bob Black Bar Leaders Award from Texas Tech University School of Law
2016 Board Certification in Criminal Law - Texas Board of Legal Specialization
LAW SCHOOL AWARDS:
American Jurisprudence Award in Civil Rights Law
American Jurisprudence Award in Business Entities
American Jurisprudence Award in Supreme Court Seminar
MEMBERSHIPS:
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
Big Country Criminal Defense Lawyers Assoc., Treasurer 2014, Vice President 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Abilene Young Lawyers Association, President 2015
PUBLICATIONS:
Jacob A. Blizzard, Where have all the Taxes Gone: Creating and Administering a Working Education System Through Universal Vouchers, 13 Tex. Tech. Admin. L.J. 209 (2012)
Jacob Blizzard, More Party Talk: Answers to Everyday Legal Questions for Texas Lawyers. Austin, TX: State Bar of Texas, 2016
SPEAKING EVENTS:
Frequent featured speaker for Texas Law Shield on various topics, including essential gun law, self-defense: when you can legally use force, legislative updates on self-defense law and gun law
Featured on Abilene news broadcasts for KTXS and KTAB speaking about his cases and as a legal consultant on current events or news stories in the Big Country
