Former Texas Solicitor General Kyle Hawkins Appointed to Texas Supreme Court

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed former Texas Solicitor General Kyle Hawkins to the Texas Supreme Court, filling the vacancy left by Justice Jeff Boyd's retirement. Hawkins, who served as Texas' top appellate attorney and represented the state in major cases at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. Supreme Court, and Texas Supreme Court, is praised for his dedication to the rule of law and originalist judicial philosophy. He notably resigned from his solicitor general role in 2021 shortly after Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an unsuccessful lawsuit challenging the 2020 election results, a case Hawkins did not sign. Hawkins has also argued high-profile cases in private practice and briefly served at the U.S. Department of Justice, advocating for states' rights to remove Planned Parenthood from Medicaid programs. His appointment continues Governor Abbott's reshaping of the Texas Supreme Court, with seven of nine justices now appointed by Abbott. Hawkins must run for a full term in the upcoming election to retain his seat.