Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has shuffled his senior staff, promoting several within the office. Ralph Molina takes on the role of Deputy First Assistant Attorney General, stepping up from his previous position as Deputy Attorney General for Legal Strategy. Joseph Mazzara is now Special Counsel to both the Attorney General and the First Assistant Attorney General. The new Associate Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation is Ryan Baasch, and Amy Hilton has been appointed Chief of the Healthcare Program Enforcement Division. These changes reflect ongoing efforts by the Texas OAG to bolster its legal team amid a series of high-profile cases and initiatives, according to a recent announcement.
In his new role, Molina aims to continue to roundly assist in the state's most significant litigations. "I am honored to serve as Deputy First Assistant Attorney General," Molina told the Texas Attorney General's Office. "I am extremely grateful to Attorney General Paxton for giving me the opportunity to serve the great state of Texas in this critical role." His tenure in the Texas OAG has been punctuated by stints in Special Litigation and General Litigation divisions, and he has become a fixture in the state's legal battles.
Mazzara, taking on the mantle of Special Counsel, has previously made his mark as Assistant Solicitor General and has had courtroom experience up to the U.S. Supreme Court. Notably, Mazzara is also recognized for his service in the U.S. Marine Corps and is a decorated combat veteran. He has also been involved with high-stakes litigation while working on President Trump’s national re-election campaign in 2020.
Ryan Baasch's promotion to Associate Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation comes after his involvement in a series of notable appeals and cases for the State of Texas. Baasch made an impact as Chief of the Consumer Protection Division by initiating numerous legal actions, including challenges to the marketing practices of pharmaceutical companies. His experience extends beyond the OAG into the realm of private practice, where he fought to protect clients from unlawful regulatory orders. "Our team of dedicated public servants works tirelessly to protect the rights of Texans, defend our Constitution, and make our State proud," Paxton stated while noting the commitment of his staff.
Amy Hilton has been named as the new Chief of the Healthcare Program Enforcement Division. Hilton's previous role as Managing Attorney for the Special Litigation Division saw her lead litigations against the federal government, including Texas v. Becerra and Lubbock ISD v. Becerra. A seasoned figure within the OAG, Hilton began her journey in the Civil Medicaid Fraud Division and has since been a force in high-profile litigations and enforcement actions against entities such as Planned Parenthood.
