Texas Governor Greg Abbott has appointed veteran attorney Robert Rucker as the new Injured Employee Public Counsel, tapping a longtime legal professional to oversee advocacy efforts for workers navigating the state’s compensation system.
The Cedar Park resident will serve in the role through February 1, 2027, bringing nearly four decades of legal experience to a position that serves as a critical voice for injured workers across the Lone Star State.
Rucker, who currently serves as General Counsel III for the Office of Injured Employee Counsel, is no stranger to the agency’s operations. His appointment represents a promotion within the organization where he’s already earning $151,194 annually as of October 1, 2025.
Decades of Legal Experience
What makes Rucker qualified for the role? The attorney has been licensed by the State Bar of Texas since May 10, 1985, giving him more than 38 years of legal practice. His primary office is located at the Office of Injured Employee Counsel headquarters in Austin.
The Public Counsel position isn’t just an administrative role. It carries significant responsibilities in Texas’s workers’ compensation landscape, including overseeing the state’s ombudsman program and serving as the principal advocate for injured employees navigating what can be a complex system of benefits and claims.
“The appointment reflects the governor’s confidence in Rucker’s ability to balance the interests of injured workers with the broader framework of the state’s compensation system,” said a spokesperson familiar with the appointment process.
Texas’s workers’ compensation system has long faced scrutiny from labor advocates who argue the system can be difficult for injured employees to navigate without assistance. That’s where the Public Counsel’s office steps in — providing guidance, advocacy, and a voice for those dealing with workplace injuries.
As Public Counsel, Rucker will be tasked with ensuring the office fulfills its mission of helping injured employees understand their rights and receive the benefits they’re entitled to under state law.
The appointment comes at a time when workplace safety and workers’ rights continue to be prominent issues in Texas’s rapidly growing economy. With industries ranging from energy to technology expanding across the state, the role of advocating for injured workers takes on heightened importance.
For Rucker, the challenge now becomes putting his decades of legal experience to work in a position that requires both administrative leadership and a commitment to serving Texans during what can be some of the most challenging periods of their lives.
