The Attorney General (AG) is an important Cabinet-level position, nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. They serve as chief law enforcement officer and legal adviser of their nation’s justice system.
Jeff Sessions, the President-elect’s choice for attorney general, fits this profile perfectly.
How many attorney generals are there?
Congress established this position in 1789 so that there would be an individual who could prosecute counterfeiting or piracy crimes and provide legal advice and counsel for federal officials.
Attorneys general currently play an essential role in overseeing legal issues affecting public safety and civil rights, communicating with Congress, and overseeing compliance with federal laws across the country. Their responsibilities can often evolve according to new legislative mandates from Washington.
Christine Gregoire was the first female attorney general of Washington state and advocated strongly for consumer protection during her single term in office. She helped move the CPA into the computer age by encouraging legislation and creating a High Technology Unit dedicated to spammer hunting. Meanwhile, Harvard Law School graduate Alberto Gonzales made his mark fighting Internet predators and terrorist acts; serving under President George W. Bush he became America’s 80th Attorney General.
What is the role of the attorney general?
Attorney generals serve as chief legal officers for their state or territory and act as impartial advocates on behalf of all residents. Also referred to as “people’s lawyers”, attorneys general play an essential role in holding government agencies accountable by filing lawsuits, participating in state administrative proceedings, writing legislation and investigating wrongdoing.
Presidents nominate attorneys general and the Senate must confirm them before taking effect. Attorneys general also play an active role on a federal level by appearing before the Supreme Court and providing amici briefs in ongoing federal cases.
Slade Gorton was an example of an Attorney General who also maintained a private law practice before being appointed Washington State AG in 1911. Outside his legal responsibilities, Gorton was an avid cyclist and took time off work in 1973 to ride coast-to-coast across America on his bike – as well as serving on the NAAG Executive Committee and championing consumer protection laws throughout his career.
What are the responsibilities of the attorney general?
The attorney general serves as the voice of the people, taking steps to defend residents, organizations, natural resources and crime victims. Furthermore, they fight business practices that harm consumers such as unfair and deceptive advertising practices.
The Judiciary Act of 1789 created the position of Attorney General as one of Congress’ Cabinet level positions. Since 1870 when the Department of Justice was created to assist attorneys general in fulfilling their responsibilities, this office has served as America’s chief law enforcement official.
Most attorneys general come from private practice. Some attorneys general have military backgrounds such as Jeff Sessions who served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1973-1986. Additionally, many AGs possess political experience such as Washington AG Don Eastvold who chaired President Dwight Eisenhower’s credentials committee at the 1952 Republican National Convention and served as mayor and county prosecutor prior to becoming AG.
How do attorney generals work?
Attorney generals (plural: attorneys generals) in the US serve as chief legal officers for their respective jurisdictions. They advise state government agencies and legislatures, representing public interests.
At the state level, they do this by participating in rulemaking processes of state agencies, testifying at hearings, proposing legislation and initiating investigations. At the federal level, they keep an eye on government by filing suits when its activities go beyond its authorized scope or violate individual constitutional rights.
As with any high-level government job, attorney general positions are highly politicized. AGs serve as delegated representatives for the president they serve and can sometimes be seen as their right hand; critics may accuse AGs of engaging in political activism or appearing to take sides on political issues. Recently AGs have made strides toward increasing diversity; but with Sessions confirmed as attorney general the office would revert back to an overwhelming history of white male leadership. Most states elect AGs themselves; in others governors or state bodies can select them instead; term length and limits vary accordingly; terms lengths and limits may also differ by state.