AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton today congratulated former Texas Assistant Solicitor General Kyle Duncan on his confirmation to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. During his several years with the attorney general’s office, Duncan represented Texas in numerous appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court.
“I am confident that Kyle Duncan has the utmost respect for our constitutional system and will remain devoted to the rule of law,” Attorney General Paxton said. “There is no doubt that Kyle faithfully adheres to the founding principles of the U.S. Constitution and will honor that in his position as a federal judge.”
Duncan clerked for 5th Circuit Judge John M. Duhé, Jr. and practiced law at Vinson & Elkins. He also taught law at Columbia University, University of Mississippi School of Law and was general counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, where he represented Hobby Lobby Stores in its Supreme Court challenge of Obamacare’s contraceptive mandate.
Duncan represents President Trump’s sixth confirmed or pending nomination to a court involving a former staffer of the Texas attorney general’s office. Last December, former Texas Supreme Court justice Don Willett and James Ho were confirmed to the 5th Circuit. Andrew Oldham awaits confirmation to the same appeals court, while David Morales was tapped for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Earlier this year, current Texas Deputy Solicitor General Cam Barker was nominated by the president to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.