Texas HR 142: In memory of Judge Fortunato Pedro "Pete" Benavides of Austin.

Bill Text

89(R) HR 142 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

  

  

  
 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.

  

   

 Fairly

   

   

 ______________________________

   

 Speaker of the House     

  

   

        I certify that H.R. No. 142 was adopted by the House on March 

   

 6, 2025, by a non-record vote.

   

   

 ______________________________

   

 Chief Clerk of the House