AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) -- The Texas Senate has confirmed Jeffrey Boyd, a former aide to Gov. Rick Perry, as a justice on the state's high court.
The Associated Press reported Boyd's confirmation Wednesday.
Perry appointed Boyd as a justice of the state Supreme Court effective Dec. 3, for a term to expire at the next general election.
He replaces former Supreme Court Justice Dale Wainwright, who resigned in September to go into private practice.
"Jeff is a highly-respected attorney who has consistently excelled throughout his years of private practice, his terms of public service, and his leadership of important charitable organizations. His addition to the court will continue to protect the rule of law and further the tradition of defending the freedoms that Texans so vigorously uphold," Perry said in November.
"He has earned my confidence, and the confidence of those he has worked with in all his endeavors, because he has a brilliant legal mind, he is committed to preserving the rule of law, and he strives everyday to live a life of fairness, integrity and compassion. I know he will bring this same commitment to the Texas Supreme Court, and we will all be better for it."
Before serving as chief of staff for Perry, Boyd served as his general counsel. He also is a former senior partner in the Austin office of Thompson and Knight LLP, and served as deputy attorney general for civil litigation under Attorney General Greg Abbott and former Attorney General and current U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.
The Supreme Court is Boyd's first job as a judge.
According to the AP, Boyd's nomination faced no opposition in the Senate.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.