The State Bar of Texas Legal Services to the Poor in Criminal Matters Committee announced that Austin-based Capital Area Private Defender Service (CAPDS) Post-Conviction Division is the 2026 recipient of the Jeff Blackburn Award. The Bexar County Public Defender’s Office, based in San Antonio, is the 2026 recipient of the Warren Burnett Award.
The recipients will be formally recognized during the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting on June 11-12 at the Marriott Marquis in Houston.
The CAPDS Post-Conviction Division was recognized for its work in providing post-conviction representation in Travis County and statewide assistance to attorneys defending non-death-penalty murder cases. Through its Forensic Project, the CAPDS Wrongful Conviction Project, and the CAPDS Mitigation Advancement Program, the CAPDS Post-Conviction Division has shaped the indigent defense practice for years to come, according to a press release.
The Bexar County Public Defender’s Office was honored for its work representing indigent Texans. Through its courtroom excellence, multidisciplinary defense model, and dedication to systemic improvement, the Bexar County Public Defender’s Office exemplifies the purpose of this award. Its attorneys, investigators, caseworkers, and support staff collectively strengthen constitutional protections and meaningfully improve the quality of representation provided to indigent Texans, according to a press release.