Solicitor General of Texas

Solicitor General of Texas
Incumbent William R. Peterson since July 7, 2025
Style	The Honorable
Appointer	Attorney General of Texas
Term length	No fixed term
Formation	1999
First holder	Greg Coleman
Website	Official website

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. ^[1] 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 ^[1] 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. ^[1] 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. ^[2]

Parties

   Republican (10)    Democratic (0)    No party (0)

No.	Portrait	Name	Took office	Left office	Attorney General
1		Greg Coleman	1999	2001		John Cornyn
2		Julie Parsley	2001	2002
3		Ted Cruz	January 9, 2003	May 12, 2008		Greg Abbott
4		James C. Ho	May 2008	December 9, 2010
5		Jonathan F. Mitchell	December 10, 2010	January 5, 2015
6		Scott A. Keller	January 2015	September 10, 2018		Ken Paxton
7		Kyle D. Hawkins	September 10, 2018	February 1, 2021
8		Judd Stone	February 1, 2021	October 2023
9		Aaron L. Nielson	November 13, 2023	July 7, 2025
10		William R. Peterson	July 7, 2025 [3] [4]	Present

References

1. "Office of Solicitor General". The Attorney General of Texas. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
2. "Ted Cruz longest-serving solicitor general of Texas, Jerry Falwell said".
3. "Attorney General Ken Paxton Appoints William Peterson as Solicitor General and Congratulates Aaron Nielson on His New Position | Office of the Attorney General". www.texasattorneygeneral.gov. Retrieved August 22, 2025.
4. "Motion Filed on Behalf of Party extend time to file rehearing – #287 in United States v. State of Texas (5th Cir., 24-50149) – CourtListener.com". CourtListener.

External links

• Office of the Attorney General of Texas