The solicitor general of Texas is the top appellate solicitor or lawyer for the U.S. state of Texas. It is an appointed position in the Office of the Texas Attorney General that focuses on the office's major appellate cases. The majority of the cases handled by the solicitor are argued in the United States Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Texas. However some cases within the solicitor's responsibilities are under the jurisdiction of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the state appellate courts. The solicitor represents the attorney general of Texas before the Supreme Court of Texas and other appellate courts, as needed. The Office of the Solicitor General writes most of the amicus briefs filed by the Texas attorney general's office.
History
The position was created in January 1999 by Texas attorney general John Cornyn and was first filled by Greg Coleman. It is a similar position to solicitors in many states and is modeled after the solicitor general of the United States. The office has one principal deputy, two deputies, and other assistant solicitors general.
Notable alumni of the Office of the Solicitor General
J. Campbell Barker, Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, 2019–present Jimmy Blacklock, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, 2018–2025, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, 2025 - Present Ted Cruz, U.S. senator from Texas, 2013–present S. Kyle Duncan, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2018–present James C. Ho, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2018–present Sean D. Jordan, Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, 2019–present Jonathan F. Mitchell, Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States (Nominee) Andy Oldham, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 2018–present Lawrence VanDyke, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2020–present, Solicitor General of Nevada (2015–2019), Solicitor General of Montana (2013–2014)
List of solicitors general
The following is a table of solicitors general of Texas.
Parties (10) (0) (0)
No.PortraitNameTook officeLeft officeAttorney General Greg Coleman 1999 2001John Cornyn Julie Parsley 2001 2002 Ted Cruz January 9, 2003 May 12, 2008Greg Abbott James C. Ho May 2008 December 9, 2010 Jonathan F. Mitchell December 10, 2010 January 5, 2015 Scott A. Keller January 2015 September 10, 2018Ken Paxton Kyle D. Hawkins September 10, 2018 February 1, 2021 Judd Stone February 1, 2021 October 2023 Aaron L. Nielson November 13, 2023 July 7, 2025 William R. Peterson July 7, 2025 Present
References
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