Born in San Ygnacio, Texas, Solis received a Bachelor of Arts degree from McMurry College in 1973 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law in 1976.
He was an assistant criminal district attorney of the Taylor County Criminal District Attorney's Office in Abilene, Taylor County, Texas from 1976 to 1981.
He was in private practice from 1981 to 1982, after which he returned to the Taylor County Criminal District Attorney's Office as a criminal district attorney from 1983 to 1987.
Solis then served as a Judge of the 350th District Court of Texas from 1989 to 1991.
[3] On June 19, 1991, Solis was nominated by President George H. W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas vacated by Judge Robert William Porter.