Tennessee’s solicitor general, J. Matthew Rice, recently made his debut argument at the Supreme Court to defend the state’s law. Rice, who previously clerked for conservative Justice Clarence Thomas during the 2019-2020 term, brought a unique background to the courtroom.
Prior to embarking on his legal career, Rice had a stint as a professional baseball player with the Tampa Bay Rays organization. As an All-American catcher, he played in the minor leagues for two seasons before deciding to pursue a career in law.
