The Solicitor General is the chief litigation policy advisor to the attorney general, providing comprehensive oversight of state and federal litigation for Indiana. The solicitor general also:
- Handles specific cases involving constitutional challenges
- Pursues cases with issues of vital interest to the state government
- Makes recommendations to the attorney general on the state’s participation in filing amicus curiae briefs (friend of the court briefs)
- Consults with the Appellate Division to determine which civil cases the state should appeal and the appropriate legal position to pursue
Solicitor General James Barta
James Barta serves as Solicitor General. In this role, he handles constitutional challenges and other litigation of vital importance to state interests. Previously, he served within the office as Deputy Solicitor General, practiced at a nationally recognized litigation boutique, and taught at Georgetown University Law Center. He clerked for Judge Raymond M. Kethledge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and Judge Stephen J. Murphy, III, of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Deputy Solicitor General Jenna Lorence
Jenna Lorence handles constitutional challenges and key litigation to further state interests. Before joining the office, she served as an Assistant Solicitor General for Kentucky and practiced in the Appeals and Major Motions group at a national law firm. She clerked for the Honorable Allison Jones Rushing of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Deputy Attorney General Katelyn Doering
Katelyn Doering joined the Solicitor General Division in September 2023. She graduated cum laude from Notre Dame Law School in 2022, where she was on the editorial board of the Notre Dame Law Review. She has prior experience in both federal and state government. Before joining the OAG, Katelyn worked as an associate attorney at a law firm in Indianapolis, where she focused on civil litigation.
Deputy Attorney General John Vastag
John Vastag joined the office in August 2024 after serving as a law clerk in the SG division in Summer 2023. He graduated cum laude from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2024, where he was Editor-in-Chief of Maurer’s flagship law journal, the Indiana Law Journal, and was appointed to the Order of the Barristers. He also received his Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Ball State University in 2021.