Paxton Taps Brigham Young Professor as Texas Solicitor General

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton named Aaron Nielson, a Brigham Young University law professor, as the state’s next solicitor general on Monday.

Nielson replaces Judd Stone, who left the office last month to launch a private practice.

“I am delighted to welcome Aaron as Solicitor General,” Paxton said in the announcement. “In this position, he will lead the critical appellate work for some of our most significant, far-reaching cases. His talent and expertise are virtually unmatched, earning him national renown in the legal community. He will be a tremendous asset to our agency and to our state’s appellate leadership on the major legal questions of our era.”

Before joining BYU, Nielson was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Washington. He also has served as a law clerk to US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.

At BYU, Nielson specializes in administrative law, civil procedure, antitrust, and the federal courts. He is taking a one-year leave of absence from his position at BYU to serve as Solicitor General.

Nielson received his law degree from Harvard and his undergraduate degree from University of Pennsylvania, majoring in economics and political science.