Ken Paxton
AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton today named the Office of Solicitor General’s fellowship program after the late Gregory S. Coleman, who served as the first solicitor general of Texas. As the chief appellate lawyer for the state of Texas, the solicitor general supervises all appellate litigation on behalf of the attorney general’s office.
One of the preeminent appellate advocates of his generation, Coleman became solicitor general in 1999 under then-attorney general John Cornyn. He argued numerous high-profile cases before the United States Supreme Court, the Texas Supreme Court, and many federal appeals courts. Throughout his career in public service, private practice, and legal academia, Coleman earned a reputation for his work ethic, integrity, and professionalism. He was only 47 when his life was cut short by a tragic plane crash in 2010.
“I am honored to name one of our agency’s fellowship programs after Gregory S. Coleman,” said Attorney General Ken Paxton, who spoke at an event honoring Coleman at the Texas Supreme Court. “Greg’s influence is still felt at the attorney general’s office. He established standards of professionalism, integrity, and excellence in oral and written advocacy, which endure in the solicitor general’s office to this day.”
The Texas Office of the Attorney General hires fellows on an annual basis. Fellows work closely with agency lawyers on complex cases on behalf of the State of Texas. The Solicitor General selects fellows based on their excellent academic records, and fellows generally join the office immediately after graduating from law school or after the completion of a judicial clerkship. The application period for the Coleman Fellowship will open on August 1, 2017 for positions beginning at the end of the summer of 2018.