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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.
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

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 .

Brandon J. Smith has previously worked as a reporter and anchor for KBIA Radio in Columbia, MO. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, IL as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.