89R11912 AMB-D By: Fairly H.R. No. 142 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Lanora C. Pettit concluded her service as principal deputy solicitor general of the Office of the Attorney General of Texas on January 24, 2025, and this occasion provides a fitting opportunity to recognize her many outstanding contributions; and WHEREAS, Ms. Pettit first joined the Office of the Attorney General in July 2019 as assistant solicitor general, and she was promoted to principal deputy solicitor general in May 2021; her responsibilities included representing the state and its agencies and officials in both state and federal court on a variety of topics, and she also handled several matters on behalf of state universities, such as arguing The University of Texas System v. The Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity and Jon Cassidy in 2023; an accomplished appellate lawyer, she authored hundreds of briefs and argued more than 40 appeals over the course of her tenure, including numerous cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, the en banc U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Texas Supreme Court; and WHEREAS, Ms. Pettit holds a bachelor's degree in history from the College of William and Mary, and she graduated summa cum laude both from there and from the University of Virginia School of Law; she embarked on her legal career as a clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and she went on to practice at a large law firm in New York for two years and then at a litigation boutique in Washington, D.C., for five years, handling commercial legal proceedings with a focus on securities and bankruptcy law; and WHEREAS, The skill, professionalism, and commitment to excellence demonstrated by Lanora Pettit made her an important asset to the Texas attorney general's office, and she may reflect with pride on her accomplishments, knowing that she rendered invaluable service to her colleagues and fellow citizens; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby honor Lanora C. Pettit for her service as principal deputy solicitor general of the Office of the Attorney General of Texas and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success in all her endeavors; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Ms. Pettit as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.