Jacob Blizzard | Board Certified Criminal Defense
– Criminal Appeal Lawyer
– PARTNER –
Abilene Attorney Jacob Blizzard is Board Certified in Criminal Law and
Criminal Appeals by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
CONTACT JACOB
BLIZZARD
Tel: (325) 230-2751
contact@BlizzardLawFirm.com
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Criminal Defense – Texas →
Criminal Defense – Federal →
Criminal Appeal – Texas →
Criminal Appeal – Federal →
DWI →
EDUCATION
Texas Tech University School of Law
– Doctor of Jurisprudence
– Cum laude – May 2010
University of Houston – Bachelor of Arts, Political Science/Economics – May 2007
Howard Payne University
Criminal Law and Criminal Appeal Specialist Attorney
Renowned and respected, Jacob has never been a prosecutor – his stance has always been firmly on the side of the defense. His accolades include being a National Trial Lawyers Top 100 honoree and a recurrent Super Lawyers Rising Star. A luminary in Texas state and federal courts, Jacob’s litigation finesse is grounded in his cum laude jurisprudence doctorate from the Texas Tech University School of Law.
He is also licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas, United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, the United State Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
Jacob’s profile on the Texas Board of Legal Specialization website: https://www.tbls.org/profile/24068558
He’s been practicing since 2010, representing individuals accused of any state or federal crime, also clients with appeals and post-conviction writs of habeas corpus, 11.07 writ of habeas corpus. View a sampling of his successful results.
Jacob is not a former prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney. Unlike attorneys who have worked part of their careers in putting people in prison, he has zero government experience or any history of prosecuting defendants.
Jacob’s defense-only background, paired with his board certification in criminal law and appeals, makes him one of the most qualified and dedicated criminal defense attorneys in the state of Texas. When the stakes are high, you need a defender who is fully committed to your case – someone who knows the prosecution’s game but has never played by their rules.
What Makes Jacob Stand Out?
Well, he never jumps to conclusions or assumes his clients are guilty. Instead, he wholeheartedly believes in the principles laid out in the Constitution of the United States of America, specifically the burden of proof being on the government to prove their case beyond any shadow of a doubt.
When you hire Jacob Blizzard, you’re hiring a defender who is fully committed to fighting for you. His lack of prosecutorial experience isn’t a weakness – it’s a strength. It means he has never worked against people like you, never tried to secure convictions, and has always been dedicated to defending those who need help the most.
Texas and National Board Certified Specialization Matters
Mr. Blizzard is the only practicing criminal defense lawyer and criminal appellate lawyer, board certified in both criminal law and criminal appellate law in Taylor County, Texas.
In Texas, there are more than 100,000 lawyers licensed to practice, but only 7,450 are board-certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specilization.
In the entire State of Texas, as of the 2019 certification year, there were only 87 lawyers board certified in both criminal law and criminal appellate law. That makes Mr. Blizzard one of 0.087% of lawyers in Texas to hold both of those certifications.
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. As a lawyer, Jacob has heard countless clients complain of prior lawyers they’ve had who only talked to them at the hiring and then met them at court to resolve their 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.
Jacob has won federal criminal cases out of the Abilene, San Angelo, and Lubbock divisions notoriously “law and order” oriented divisions of the Northern District of Texas. Cases actually tried before a jury and not plead out. He has successfully argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans. He has also successfully won numerous state criminal jury trial cases, including first-degree murder and capital murder.
National Board Certified Specialization
Mr. Blizzard is one of only 32 attorneys in the state of Texas who has achieved certification by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Jacob is part of this elite group of trial attorneys who demonstrate their dedication to advancing the legal profession by meeting the rigorous standards required for board certification. This distinction offers clients an objective benchmark to identify highly qualified and experienced legal counsel.
To achieve board certification through the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA), attorneys must undergo an extensive credentialing process.
This includes showcasing substantial trial experience, submitting references from judges and peers that attest to their competence, completing continuing legal education courses, providing examples of legal writing, verifying good standing with the bar, and passing a comprehensive examination.
This national board certification represents the pinnacle of achievement in the legal field. It is the highest, most stringent, and most reliable honor available to attorneys, and it is exclusively granted by non-profit organizations committed to maintaining excellence in the profession.
Texas Criminal Defense Attorney With A Passion for Advocacy
Mr. Blizzard grew up in a working-class family, with his father owning his own home remodeling company. From an early age, he has had a passion for justice and a heart for mercy. Growing up as a Christian, Jacob went to college believing he would enter the ministry. Ultimately, after attending two years of college, he decided that his heart for helping and ministering to others was better suited in his pursuit as a lawyer practicing primarily criminal defense, appeals, and post-conviction writ of habeas corpus work.
Jacob has spent years gaining valuable experience, crafting unique negotiations, building relationships, and honing his skills in trial and appeal brief writing to achieve favorable results for his clients.
Skill, Knowledge, Expertise
Prior to becoming a founding and managing partner at Blizzard & Zimmerman Attorneys, Jacob:
- Practiced as a solo practitioner under the name The Blizzard Law Firm, also in Abilene, Texas.
- Practiced as the managing partner of Parker & Blizzard, P.L.L.C. in a partnership with now retired, Abilene, Texas lawyer Quanah Parker.
- Worked in an insurance defense law firm representing large national insurance companies.
- Worked in criminal prosecution with the City of Lubbock, Texas.
- Worked with the Attorney General of Texas, Child Support Division.
- Worked with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
Professional Awards and Recognition
Jacob is among the most active criminal defense and criminal appeals attorneys in Texas:
- 2026 Super Lawyer Texas – Criminal Defense
- 2025 National Board of Trial Advocacy
- 2021 American Institute of Trial Attorneys Best Law Firm
- 2020-2025 Super Lawyers Texas Rising Star – Criminal Defense
- 2025-2026 National Trial Lawyers Top 40 – Criminal Defense
- 2020-2024 National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 – Criminal Defense
- 2019 National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
- 2019 Board Certification in Criminal Appellate Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- 2016 Board Certification in Criminal Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- 2016 Bob Black Bar Leaders Award from Texas Tech University School of Law
- Big Country Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- -Treasurer 2014, Vice President 2015-2018, President 2019 & 2020
- Abilene Young Lawyers Association, President 2015
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association Member
For our clients, board certification provides an independent, objective assurance that Jacob has proven expertise, advanced legal skill, and a track record of handling complex legal issues – often where the stakes are highest.
Law School Awards
- American Jurisprudence Award in Civil Rights Law
- American Jurisprudence Award in Business Entities
- American Jurisprudence Award in Supreme Court Seminar
Publications
- Author: Blizzard, Jacob A., Where have all the Taxes Gone: Creating and Administering a Working Education System Through Universal Vouchers, 13 Tex. Tech. Admin. L.J. 209. 2012.
- Author: Blizzard, Jacob A., More Party Talk: Answers to Everyday Legal Questions for Texas Lawyers. Austin, TX: State Bar of Texas. 2016.
Community Involvement
- Jacob serves as a board member and secretary for West Texas Veteran Support Services.
- Abilene Chamber of Commerce
- Abilene Downtown Association
- The Better Business Bureau
- Big Country CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
Continuing Legal Education – CLE – State Bar of Texas
2023
Non-Capital Habeas Conference – Portland, OR / Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Defender Services Office Training Division2021
Motions for New Trial / State Writs of Habeas Corpus Criminal Law and Civil Ligitators: A review of Three Little Known Federal Statues and Parallel Prosecution False Evidence Claims / Brady and Other Ethical Issues Mastering the Strike for Cause Method of Jury Selection2020
2020 Annual Federal Criminal Practice Seminar Best of Criminal Writs: A Collection of the Top Rated Presentations2019
2018 Robert O. Dawson Conference on Criminal Appeals2018
Veterans and Legal Representation 31st Rusty Duncan Advanced Criminal Law Course Handling Your First (or Next) Wrongful Conviction 20172017
21st Annual DWI Means Defend With Ingenuity Seminar Exceptional Oral Arguments: Tips and Techniques Defending a Self Defense Case / Defending Controversial Cases Experts & Daubert / Search Warrants / Technology Digital Evidence: 45 Apps in 45 Minutes2016
Legislative Update 2015: Criminal Law US Supreme Court & Court of Criminal Appeals Update / Jury2015
Federal Law2014
Elder Exploitation and Criminal Prosecution Appellate Issues in Criminal Law: Brief Writing / Oral Attorney Fees / Sufficiency of the Evidence Standards Drug Minus 2: Federal Sentencing Guidelines Update2013
Defending Those Accused of Sexual Assault Family Law Essentials 2013 Texas Estate Planning Legislative Update2012
Real Estate Law 2012 25th Annual Rusty Duncan Advanced Criminal Law Course House Bill 274: What Passed?2011
Confessions / Search & Seizure / Deferred Prosecution Demonstration Exhibits / Criminal Law Update / DWI How to Handle an Appeal and Write A Brief to the Court Justice James A. Baker Guide to the Basics Course Guardianship Law 2011 Representing Texas Children in Abuse and Neglect Cases Appellate Update Lawyer Advertising Misdemeanor Courts Go Paperless The Vanishing Jury DWI for Dummies Criminal Defense – Duty to Investigate State of the Bar presented by SBOT President-Elect Bob Black How the Grievance System Works
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