Craig W. Richards

{{short description|American lawyer}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Cleanup biography|date=June 2016}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Craig Richards

|image = File:Craig W. Richards (cropped).jpg

|office = 30th Attorney General of Alaska

|governor = Bill Walker

|term_start = December 1, 2014

|term_end = June 23, 2016

|predecessor = Michael Geraghty

|successor = Jim Clark {{small|(Acting)}}

|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1975}}

|birth_place = Marietta, Georgia, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Republican

|spouse =

|children = 1 son

|alma_mater = University of Virginia {{small|(BS)}}
Duke University {{small|(MBA)}}
{{nowrap|Washington and Lee University}} {{small|(JD)}}

}}

Craig W. Richards (born 1975) was the Attorney General of Alaska. He was nominated for the position by his former law partner, Governor Bill Walker in December 2014.{{cite news|last1=Gutierrez|first1=Alexandra|title=With AG Confirmation Pending, Same-Sex Marriage Ban Brief Causes Rift With Democrats|url=http://www.alaskapublic.org/2015/04/08/with-ag-confirmation-pending-same-sex-marriage-ban-brief-causes-rift-with-democrats/|work=Alaska Public Media|date=April 8, 2015}}

Richards was born in Fairbanks, Alaska. He received a degree in finance from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Duke University. He received his JD from Washington and Lee University School of Law.[http://www.martindale.com/Craig-W-Richards/2515887-lawyer.htm martindale.com, Craig W. Richards - Lawyer Profile] He clerked for United States District Court judge Ralph Beistline. Richards was an associate at the law firm Wohlforth, Vassar, Johnson & Brecht in Anchorage before joining the firm that later became Walker Richards with Bill Walker. He is experienced with oil and gas and taxation and represented municipalities in litigation over the assessment of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.{{cite news|last1=Bohrer|first1=Becky|title=Craig Richards to review gay marriage case, Guard issues|url=http://juneauempire.com/state/2014-12-05/craig-richards-review-gay-marriage-case-guard-issues|work=Juneau Empire|agency=AP|date=December 5, 2014|access-date=April 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414143949/http://juneauempire.com/state/2014-12-05/craig-richards-review-gay-marriage-case-guard-issues|archive-date=April 14, 2015|url-status=dead}} Walker Richards represented the city of Valdez and secured over $1B in tax revenue for municipalities and the State of Alaska.{{cite news|last1=McBride|first1=Rhonda|title=Alaska Gov.-elect Bill Walker appoints law partner as attorney general|url=http://www.ktva.com/alaska-gov-elect-bill-walker-appoints-law-partner-as-attorney-general-953/|work=KTVA Anchorage|date=November 27, 2014|access-date=April 9, 2015|archive-date=April 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416200117/http://www.ktva.com/alaska-gov-elect-bill-walker-appoints-law-partner-as-attorney-general-953/|url-status=dead}}

Richards was nominated for Attorney General of Alaska by Walker in December 2014.{{cite news|last1=DeMarban|first1=Alex|title=Walker names law partner as attorney general, makes 3 other appointments|url=http://www.adn.com/article/20141125/walker-names-law-partner-attorney-general-makes-3-other-appointments|work=Alaska Dispatch News|date=November 25, 2014}} Richards announced his resignation as Attorney General on June 23, 2016, with the resignation effective immediately. Governor Bill Walker accepted his resignation, and thanked Richards for his service to the State of Alaska.{{cite news|last=DeMarban|first=Alex|title=Alaska attorney general resigns, cites personal reasons|url=http://www.adn.com/politics/2016/06/23/attorney-general-richards-resigning/|work=Alaska Dispatch News|date=June 23, 2016}}