The State Bar of Texas Legal Services to the Poor in Criminal Matters Committee announced Michael J. Ritter as the 2022 recipient of the Michael K. Moore Award for Excellence in Research or Writing in the Area of Indigent Criminal Defense. Jeff Blackburn is the 2022 recipient of the Warren Burnett Award.
Ritter is senior counsel at Schmoyer Reinhard in San Antonio. The Michael K. Moore award is presented to an individual or organization in recognition of exceptional research or writing that deals with indigent criminal defense and that represents a significant contribution to the knowledge and practices of the bench, bar, and scholarly communities. It is named after Michael K. Moore for his pivotal role in research and writing efforts that had a major effect on indigent defense in Texas.
Jeff Blackburn is a partner at Blackburn & Brown in Amarillo, where he practices criminal defense and civil rights. The Warren Burnett Award recognizes extraordinary contributions to improving the quality of criminal legal representation to indigent Texans. The award honors either an individual or an organization for their work in the courtroom, Legislature, or in the public sphere.