As Texas’ chief legal office, the Attorney General’s Office stands ready to defend Texas laws and constitution in civil litigation matters. Additionally, this body approves public bond issues for public sale as well as providing legal guidance to certain governmental agencies.
Legal strategies at Paxton won them widespread acclaim and helped launch careers of lawyers like Mateer and Bangert – yet at great personal sacrifice for themselves.
1. James Hogg
Texas politics recognize the state attorney general as an indispensable role in state government, with an unrivaled impact not found elsewhere in state government. Their impact stems from formal authority, constitutional restrictions on other state officials’ powers, part-time legislative work cycles and limited court reversals of their actions.
The office boasts national attention, taking on administration officials in federal court cases and acting as a beacon for conservative legal advocacy groups. But internal turmoil threatens its progress.
Lacey Mase serves as executive counsel, overseeing the office’s most significant legal matters and carrying out workflow and oversight improvement projects at the direction of the attorney general. She joined our office in 2021 after having worked previously as a civil litigator.
2. Charles Culberson
The attorney general holds a unique role in Texas government-a perspective not shared by any other state office. This significance arises due to formal authority, limited constitutional powers accorded other state officials, independence of a part-time legislature, and limited judicial review over actions of the attorney general.
Due to political tension, economic expansion, and the impact of modern technology on government activities, this office has grown in significance over time. It now plays an essential role in providing state governments with the ability to adapt quickly in response to change.
Lacey Mase joined the Office in January 2021 as Executive Counsel. Her duties include monitoring major legal matters and overseeing workflow and oversight improvement projects as directed by the Attorney General. A graduate of both Baylor University and University of Texas School of Law, Lacey holds her JD from both institutions.
3. Daniel Moody
The Texas Constitution grants the Attorney General with the responsibility of upholding state laws and constitution, representing it in court cases, and authorizing public bond issues. Their office also plays an instrumental role in all state government agencies via their legal-advice function – providing specific officials guidance on how they can fulfill their responsibilities legally.
Paxton is an uncompromising conservative with a deep knowledge of America’s founding values. Since taking office, his main priority has been fighting federal overreach on environmental, health care, religious freedom and immigration matters. Since taking office he has built his office into one of the nation’s most influential state attorney general’s offices for conservative legal movements as well as serving as an incubator for young lawyers seeking courtroom experience.
4. James Allred
Texas attorney general offices have increasingly evolved as a reflection of political and societal pressures to regulate, protect, and change. One such attorney general in recent times was James Allred. Serving both as governor and federal district judge during his career, Allred made use of New Deal politics as well as implicit white supremacy beliefs when rendering his judicial opinions.
Born in Bowie, Allred briefly attended Rice University before enlisting in the Navy during World War I. Later he received his law degree from Cumberland University in Tennessee and started private practice in Wichita Falls after leaving office as governor in 1942. President Roosevelt appointed Allred to sit on federal bench before running unsuccessfully against Senator William O’Daniel for U.S. Senate seat.
5. Price Daniel Sr.
Price Daniel was the son of Sam and Margaret Houston and was thus part of a political dynasty dating back several generations. Throughout his time as Texas House Representative and United States Senator before becoming attorney general – becoming the state’s most influential legal figure during this time; notable among his accomplishments was fighting to defend Texas schools’ right to submerged land claims which has generated billions in revenue for Texas schools due to Price’s advocacy work.
He led the charge to uphold the independence of Texas universities. Though he disagreed with legislation creating a sales tax, he allowed it to pass so as to maintain state finances.
The office of the attorney general prosecutes individuals suspected of mismanaging state funds or property, assists local law enforcement with criminal cases, assists victims of human trafficking cases and defends state laws when challenged in court.