The person who served between Parsley and Cruz was Phil Lionberger, who was the Deputy SG under Parsley. Phil left the office for a few years to practice at Brown McCarroll in Austin, but he eventually returned as an ASG. He’s a very fine appellate lawyer. (I can safely say that because he’s more likely to be reading TMZ than one of these law blogs — which, I’m told, makes him a normal person.)

Don

Thanks as always for the clarification. Who was the interim SG b/t Commissioner Parsley and General Cruz?

I am familiar with Renea’s more recent work on groundwater law issues, and can imagine he did a fine job with the resources at his disposal back then at the OAG.

-020033

“020033″ asks about more distant history. This was before my time at the agency, but Renea Hicks (still a prominent Austin lawyer) used the titled “state solicitor” for a few years in the 1990s and handled some of the highest-profile appellate arguments. I don’t think he had the benefit of an office like OSG to support him.

Jim is the best of the best, and he will serve the State well.

Isn’t Commissioner Parsley at the PUC a former SG as well (http://www.puc.state.tx.us/about/commissioners/parsley/p_bio.cfm?comname=3)?

I don’t really know what the history of the office itself is (how long it’s been established, holders of the office, etc.). Was it more of an informal title before General Coleman assumed the post; is that the distinction between recent SGs and less recent SGs?

-020033