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Jonathan F. Mitchell

Jonathan F. Mitchell
Solicitor General of Texas
In office
December 10, 2010 – January 5, 2015
Attorney GeneralGreg Abbott
Preceded byJames C. Ho
Succeeded byScott A. Keller
Personal details
Born (1976-09-02) September 2, 1976 (age 48)
Upland, Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Chicago (JD)

Jonathan Franklin Mitchell (born September 2, 1976)[1] is an American lawyer, academic, and legal theorist[2][3] who served as the Solicitor General of Texas from 2010[4] to 2015. He has argued seven cases before the Supreme Court of the United States.[5] Mitchell has served on the faculties of Stanford Law School, the University of Texas School of Law, the George Mason University School of Law, and the University of Chicago Law School.[1] In 2018, he opened a private solo legal practice in Austin, Texas.[6]

Mitchell devised the novel enforcement mechanism in the Texas Heartbeat Act, also known as Senate Bill 8 (or SB 8), which outlaws abortion after cardiac activity is detected and avoids judicial review by prohibiting government officials from enforcing the statute and empowering private citizens to bring lawsuits against those who violate it.[7][8] On September 1, 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States refused to enjoin the enforcement of SB 8, marking the first time that a state had successfully imposed a pre-viability abortion ban since Roe v. Wade.[9]

Mitchell also represented former president Donald J. Trump when Colorado tried to exclude him from the 2024 presidential ballot.[10]

  1. ^ a b "United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Questionnaire for Non-Judicial Nominees: Jonathan Franklin Mitchell" (PDF). Senate Judiciary Committee. May 31, 2018.
  2. ^ Orden, Erica (February 7, 2024). "Meet the lawyers arguing the Trump ballot case at the Supreme Court". Politico. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  3. ^ Baio, Ariana (February 9, 2024). "Who is Jonathan Mitchell? The conservative lawyer arguing for Trump at Supreme Court". Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  4. ^ Cruse, Don (December 10, 2010). "Texas' new Solicitor General: Jonathan Mitchell". The Supreme Court of Texas Blog. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Jonathan F. Mitchell". Oyez Project. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  6. ^ McGaughy, Lauren (July 3, 2022). "After Roe, architect of Texas abortion law sets sights on gay marriage and more". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  7. ^ Gershman, Jacob (September 4, 2021). "Behind Texas Abortion Law, an Attorney's Unusual Enforcement Idea". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  8. ^ Marimow, Ann; Zapatosky, Matt; Kitchener, Caroline (September 2, 2021). "Texas abortion ban based on unsual legal strategy". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 12, 2021.[failed verification]
  9. ^ "Whole Woman's Health, et al. v. Austin Reeve Jackson, Judge, et al., No. 21A24" (PDF). www.supremecourt.gov. September 1, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  10. ^ Gerstein, Josh (February 9, 2024). "A very un-Trumpy performance delivers for Trump at Supreme Court". Politico. Retrieved February 9, 2024.

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