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James Barta named Indiana's second-ever solicitor general

James Barta becomes Indiana's second-ever solicitor general, replacing Thomas Fisher.
Courtesy of the attorney general's office
James Barta becomes Indiana's second-ever solicitor general, replacing Thomas Fisher.

Indiana has a new solicitor general.

James Barta will become the second person to ever serve in that role, Attorney General Todd Rokita announced Monday.

Barta replaces Thomas Fisher, who stepped down earlier this year after nearly two decades in the job.

The solicitor general oversees state and federal legal action for the state. Before becoming Indiana’s deputy solicitor general last year, Barta worked for a Washington, D.C., law firm.

READ MORE: Thomas Fisher stepping down as Indiana solicitor general after nearly two decades

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In his time there, he successfully fought federal energy and environmental regulations.

In a statement, Rokita called Barta “brilliant … tenacious and excited to serve Hoosiers.”

Brandon is our Statehouse bureau chief. Contact him at  bsmith@ipbs.org  or follow him on Twitter at  @brandonjsmith5 . Copyright 2023 IPB News. To see more, visit IPB News.

Brandon Smith has covered the Statehouse for Indiana Public Broadcasting for more than a decade, spanning three governors and a dozen legislative sessions. He's also the host of Indiana Week in Review, a weekly political and policy discussion program seen and heard across the state.
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