A quiet trickle of a rumor last week was that James C. Ho, currently of counsel with Gibson Dunn and a former law clerk to Justice Thomas at SCOTUS, has been tapped to serve as the next Solicitor General of Texas. If this is true, Texas will be in very capable hands as Jim Ho is certainly one of the best appellate lawyers in the state (and the country for that matter), and has demonstrated great and valuable political savvy on the national stage as well.
Moreover, it is interesting to note that, now, three of the four solicitors general have clerked for SCOTUS (Greg Coleman–Justice Thomas; Ted Cruz–the late Chief Rehnquist; and Jim Ho–Justice Thomas). A SCOTUS clerkship now appears to be a prerequisite to the post, which makes eminent sense because one of the OSG’s main functions is to represent the State before SCOTUS–a job we have noted current General Cruz has done extremely well.
Thx to an anonymous Texas lawyer
*** UPDATE ***
It’s official.
Thx to General Cruz for his outstanding service to the Great State of Texas, and to the Texas Appellate Law Blog
Sophistic Miltonian Serbonian Blog © 
April 8, 2008 at 9:55 am
The rumor is true. Regarding the second paragraph, Coleman, Cruz, and Ho are the *only* SGs of Texas (Coleman was the first), so all SGs have had SCOTUS clerkships.
April 8, 2008 at 10:13 am
Anon,
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
April 8, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Julie Parsley was the second official Texas Solicitor General, after Greg Coleman created the shop during Senator Cornyn’s tenure as Texas AG. I hear from Texas SG alums that the office warmly welcomes their new boss.
April 8, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I stand corrected. I didn’t realize there was a gap between Coleman and Cruz. That’s interesting.
Jim is the best of the best, and he will serve the State well.
April 10, 2008 at 1:01 am
[…] Sophistic Miltonian Serbonian Blog notes that this SCOTUS clerkship may help Ho as a state solicitor general when the State has a case […]
April 10, 2008 at 8:45 am
Regarding the history of the Texas OSG … It was founded under John Cornyn in 1999 and fit with a national pattern of States establishing similar offices to try to strengthen their appellate practices. The Texas OSG now has about a dozen lawyers and is one of the largest state offices of its kind. Jim Ho will be the fourth person — and second Thomas clerk — to hold the title SG in Texas. (“Anon” is right that now-PUC Commissioner Julie Parsley was also SG. She clerked for the Texas Supreme Court, as did the interim SG who came between Parsley and Cruz.)
“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.
April 10, 2008 at 9:29 am
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
April 10, 2008 at 10:27 am
“020033”,
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
April 18, 2008 at 9:17 am
[…] of note, outgoing Texas Solicitor General and proud papa Ted Cruz argued (the day after the birth of his daughter) […]
May 14, 2008 at 4:13 pm
[…] Like his Texas counterpart a few weeks ago, U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement submitted his resignation today, effective June 2. Also like former Texas Solicitor General Cruz, General Clement is leaving on a high note. […]
November 5, 2008 at 11:24 am
A little late for a comment that is too relevant, but at least I can look back on reflection and consider the current outcome.
The legal aspect remains frail.
Thanks … Andy
:)