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Pennsylvania Attorney General

{{Short description|Attorney general for the U.S. state of Pennsylvania}}

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

{{Infobox Political post

| post = Attorney General

| body = the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

| flag = Seal of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania.svg

| flagcaption = Seal of the attorney general of Pennsylvania

| image = Dave Sunday by Gage Skidmore (cropped).jpg

| incumbent = Dave Sunday

| incumbentsince = January 21, 2025

| termlength = Four years

| formation = 1683

| salary = $162,000 per year

| website = {{URL|www.attorneygeneral.gov|Official website}}

| appointer = Direct popular vote

}}

The Pennsylvania attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It became an elected office in 1980.Penn. Const. Art. 4, § 4.1 The current attorney general is Republican Dave Sunday.

On August 15, 2016, then-Attorney General Kathleen Kane was convicted of criminal charges, including conspiracy, perjury, and obstruction of justice,{{cite news|last1=Dale|first1=Maryclaire|title=Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane Found Guilty on All Charges in Perjury Trial|url=http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Kathleen-Kane-Trial-Perjury-Closing-Arguments-Jury-390168381.html|access-date=16 August 2016|agency=NBC 10 Philadelphia|publisher=Associated Press|date=16 August 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Bidgood|first1=Jess|title=Pennsylvania's Attorney General Is Convicted on All Counts|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/16/us/trial-kathleen-kane-pennsylvania-attorney-general.html|access-date=16 August 2016|agency=New York Times|work=New York Times|date=16 August 2016}} and announced her resignation the following day, effective August 17.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/16/politics/pennsylvania-attorney-general-kane/index.html|title=Pennsylvania attorney general resigning|author1=Susannah Cullinane |author2=Ralph Ellis|work=cnn.com}} Consequently, as the Solicitor General, Bruce Castor assumed the office as Acting Attorney General.Bumsted, Brad, (19 July 2016), "[http://articles.philly.com/2016-09-01/news/75233953_1_attorney-general-former-top-state-prosecutor-kane Castor Next In Line to Be Pennsylvania Attorney General]{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}", Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Accessed September 20, 2016. Governor Tom Wolf nominated Bruce Beemer to serve out the remaining balance of Kane's term, which expired in January 2017. Democrat Josh Shapiro succeeded Beemer. Shapiro was elected governor in 2022, and appointed Michelle Henry as his successor in 2023. The Pennsylvania Senate confirmed Henry in her own right later that year.

Authority and responsibilities

The Commonwealth Attorneys Act of 198071 P. S. §732-101 established the Office of Attorney General as an independent office headed by an elected attorney general.[http://www.oit.state.pa.us/ogc/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=99956 OGC: Commonwealth Attorneys Act] The office has the responsibility for the prosecution of those crimes prosecuted by the commonwealth, including organized crime and public corruption, as well as civil litigation on behalf of some, but not all, commonwealth agencies and the civil enforcement of some commonwealth laws, including laws pertaining to consumer protection and charities. The attorney general may act on behalf of consumers to issue cease and desist orders.{{Cite web |title=Total Home Protection To Pay $400K In Restitution, Revise Business Practices |url=https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/taking-action/total-home-protection-to-pay-400k-in-restitution-revise-business-practices/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=It's All in the Family; AG Shapiro Nabs 2nd Scam Company in Seruya Family |url=https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/taking-action/its-all-in-the-family-ag-shapiro-nabs-2nd-scam-company-in-seruya-family/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General |language=en}} The attorney general represents the commonwealth in all actions brought by or against the commonwealth and reviews all proposed rules and regulations by commonwealth agencies.{{Cite web |url=http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/theoffice.aspx?id=168 |title=The Office: Attorney General Tom Corbett - Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General |access-date=2008-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110011438/http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/theoffice.aspx?id=168 |archive-date=2008-01-10 |url-status=dead }}

The attorney general also serves on the Board of Pardons, the joint Committee on Documents, the Hazardous Substances Transportation Board, the Board of Finance and Revenue, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the Civil Disorder Commission, and the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission.

List of attorneys general

There have been four styles of selection for the Pennsylvania Attorney General. The first phase was colonial, with the first attorney general commissioned in 1683. At the outbreak of the Revolution, the sitting attorney general, a loyalist, fled, and new attorneys general were appointed, under the Constitution of 1776, by the state president (or vice-president) with the Supreme Executive Council. Under the new constitution of 1790, attorneys general were appointed by the governor, subject to approval by the legislature (similar to how the United States Attorney General is appointed by the president of the United States). This remained in the Constitutions of 1838, 1874, and 1968. In 1978, voters approved an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution making the office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General an elected position, effective as of the general election of 1980.

Note that before William Penn, there were attorneys general for New Sweden as early as 1643.{{cite web|url=http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/theoffice.aspx?id=170|title=History of the Office of Attorney General|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923051227/http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/theoffice.aspx?id=170|archive-date=2006-09-23}}

=Colonial attorneys general=

Under the influence of David Lloyd, who served 1686–1710, Pennsylvania developed its first judicial system. Andrew Hamilton, who served 1717–1726, strongly influenced Pennsylvania law away from some aspects of the British system.

=President/Council appointed attorneys general=

class="wikitable" style="clear:right; text-align:center"

! style="width: 2em;"|Image

! style="width: 12em;"|Name

! style="width: 12em;"|Took office

! style="width: 12em;"|Left office

! style="width: 12em;"|Comment

|John Morris Jr.July 16, 1777November 1, 1777pro temMorris was Clerk of the General Assembly
60px

|Jonathan D. Sergeant

November 1, 1777November 23, 1780Resigned{{cite book|title=Pennsylvania Archives|year=1858|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AmA3AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA612|page=612}}
60px

|William Bradford

November 23, 1780—Re-commissioned

=Attorneys general appointed between 1791 and 1920=

class="wikitable" style="clear:right; text-align:center"

! style="width: 2em;"|Image

! style="width: 12em;"|Name

! style="width: 12em;"|Took office

! style="width: 12em;"|Left office

! style="width: 12em;"|Comment

60px

|William Bradford

June 9, 1791August 20, 1791ResignedBradford accepted state Supreme Court appointment
60px

|Jared Ingersoll

August 20, 1791May 10, 1800
|Joseph B. McKeanMay 10, 1800July 22, 1808
60px

|Mahlon Dickerson

July 22, 1808January 9, 1809
60px

|Walter Franklin

January 9, 1809October 2, 1810ResignedFranklin accepted state judicial appointment
|Joseph ReedOctober 2, 1810January 26, 1811
60px

|Richard Rush

January 26, 1811December 13, 1811
60px

|Jared Ingersoll

December 13, 1811December 21, 1816
60px

|Amos Ellmaker

December 21, 1816July 7, 1819
|Thomas SergeantJuly 7, 1819December 20, 1820
|Thomas ElderDecember 20, 1820December 18, 1823
60px

|Frederick Smith

December 18, 1823February 5, 1828ResignedSmith accepted a position as Justice on the state Supreme Court
60px

|Calvin Blythe

February 5, 1828May 6, 1828
60px

|Amos Ellmaker

May 6, 1828August 17, 1829
|Philip S. MarkleyAugust 17, 1829February 10, 1830
|Samuel DouglasFebruary 10, 1830January 29, 1833
60px

|Ellis Lewis

January 29, 1833October 14, 1833ResignedLewis accepted a position as President Judge of the Eighth Judicial District
60px

|George M. Dallas

October 14, 1833December 1, 1835
60px

|James ToddSee article for citations regarding the dates.

December 18, 1835April 2, 1838ResignedTodd accepted a Philadelphia judicial appointment.
60px

|William B. Reed

April 2, 1838January 15, 1839
|Ovid F. JohnsonJanuary 15, 1839January 21, 1845
60px

|John K. Kane

January 21, 1845June 17, 1846This is the date of his judicial commission; there is no date listed in The Pennsylvania Manual.ResignedKane accepted a federal judiciary appointment.
60px

|John M. Read

June 23, 1846December 18, 1846Resigned
60px

|Benjamin Champneys

December 18, 1846July 31, 1848
60px

|James Cooper

July 31, 1848December 30, 1848Resigned
|Cornelius DarraghJanuary 4, 1849April 28, 1851
60px

|Thomas E. Franklin

April 28, 1851January 21, 1852
60px

|James Campbell

January 21, 1852March 8, 1853ResignedCampbell accepted the position of U. S. Postmaster General.
|Francis Wade HughesMarch 14, 1853January 17, 1855
60px

|Thomas E. Franklin

January 17, 1855January 19, 1858
60px

|John C. Knox

January 19, 1858January 16, 1861
60px

|Samuel A. Purviance

January 16, 1861June 3, 1861
60px

|William M. Meredith

June 3, 1861January 16, 1867
60px

|Benjamin Harris Brewster

January 16, 1867October 25, 1869Resigned
60px

|F. Carroll Brewster

October 26, 1869January 22, 1873
|Samuel E. DimmickJanuary 22, 1873October 11, 1875Died in office
60px

|George Lear

December 7, 1875February 26, 1879
60px

|Henry W. Palmer

February 26, 1879January 17, 1883
60px

|Lewis C. Cassidy

January 17, 1883January 18, 1887
60px

|William S. Kirkpatrick

January 18, 1887January 10, 1891
60px

|W. U. Hensel

January 10, 1891January 15, 1895
60px

|Henry Clay McCormick

January 15, 1895January 18, 1899
60px

|John P. Elkin

January 18, 1899January 21, 1903
60px

|Hampton L. Carson

January 21, 1903January 16, 1907
60px

|Moses Hampton Todd

January 16, 1907January 17, 1911
60px

|John C. Bell

January 17, 1911January 19, 1915
60px

|Francis Shunk Brown

January 19, 1915January 21, 1919
60px

|William I. Schaffer

January 21, 1919December 14, 1920Resigned

=Attorneys general appointed between 1920 and 1980=

class="wikitable" style="clear:right; text-align:center"

! style="width: 2em;"|Image

! style="width: 12em;"|Name

! style="width: 12em;"|Took office

! style="width: 12em;"|Left office

! colspan=2 style="width: 12em;"|Governor(s)

60px

| George E. Alter

| December 14, 1920

| January 16, 1923

| style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

| William Sproul

60px

| George Washington Woodruff

| January 16, 1923

| January 18, 1927

| style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

| Gifford Pinchot

| Thomas J. Baldrige

| January 18, 1927

| January 28, 1929Resigned

| rowspan="3" style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

| rowspan=3|John Stuchell Fisher

style="height: 2ex"

| 60px

| Cyrus E. Woods

| January 28, 1929

| November 1, 1930

rowspan="2"|60px

| rowspan="2"|William A. Schnader

| rowspan="2"|November 1, 1930{{Cite news|title=Schnader Takes Oath|agency=International News Service|newspaper=Chester Times|page=8|url=http://delawarecolib.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=85891756|date=November 1, 1930|access-date=November 15, 2012|quote=William A. Schnader, named attorney-general of Pennsylvania Wednesday to succeed Cyrus E. Wood when the latter resigned, took the oath of office at noon at the capital today.}}

| rowspan="2"|January 15, 1935{{Cite news|title=Forms Law Firm|quote=William A. Schnader, who relinquishes the office of attorney general in Governor Pinchot's cabinet tomorrow...|date=January 14, 1935|newspaper=Chester Times|url=http://delawarecolib.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=95214975|access-date=November 15, 2012|page=1}}

style="height: 0ex"

| style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

| Gifford Pinchot

60px

| Charles J. Margiotti

| January 15, 1935{{Cite book|title=Official Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania for the Years 1937 and 1938 |quote=Charles J. Margiotti, Attorney General (January 15, 1935 to April 27, 1938); Guy K. Bard, Attorney General (April 27, 1938 to January 17, 1939) |url=http://search.attorneygeneral.gov/Documents/AG%20Opinions/PA_Official_Opinions_of_the_Attorney_General_1937-1938.pdf |access-date=November 15, 2012 |date=1939 |publisher=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305131729/http://search.attorneygeneral.gov/Documents/AG%20Opinions/PA_Official_Opinions_of_the_Attorney_General_1937-1938.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

| April 27, 1938

| rowspan="2" style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

| rowspan="2"|George Howard Earle III

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| Guy K. Bard

| April 27, 1938

| January 17, 1939

| Claude T. Reno

| January 17, 1939{{Cite news|title=14 New Cabinet Members Safe; Two Are Held Up|newspaper=Chester Times|page=2|access-date=November 14, 2012|url=http://delawarecolib.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=84850996|date=January 18, 1939|agency=United Press}}

| December 31, 1942{{Cite news|title=Harrisburg Man to Fill Reno's Place; E. Russel Shockley Is New Attorney General|agency=International News Service|newspaper=New Castle News|page=7|date=December 31, 1942}}

| rowspan="2" style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

| rowspan="2"|Arthur James

| E. Russell Shockley

| December 31, 1942

| January 19, 1943

rowspan="2"|60px

| rowspan="2"|James H. Duff

| rowspan="2"|January 19, 1943{{Cite news|title=Martin Picks Duff, Neel For Cabinet|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=January 14, 1943|access-date=November 14, 2012|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gTcxAAAAIBAJ&pg=3904%2C2540726|first=John E.|last=Jones|page=1}}

| rowspan="2"|January 21, 1947{{Cite news|newspaper=Chester Times|date=January 22, 1947|url=http://delawarecolib.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=84991777|access-date=November 14, 2012|at=p. 2, no. 9|agency=United Press|title=Blast Chesnut, Wilhelm, Smock Appointments}}

| style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

| Edward Martin

style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

|John C. Bell Jr.

| T. McKeen Chidsey

| January 21, 1947

| July 5, 1950{{Cite news|title=Margiotti To Send Aide to Job Probe|newspaper=Pittsburgh Press|page=6|date=July 5, 1950|access-date=November 14, 2012|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jmMbAAAAIBAJ&pg=1232%2C929662}}

| rowspan="2" style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

| rowspan="2"|James H. Duff

style="height: 2ex"

| rowspan=2|60px

| rowspan=2|Charles J. Margiotti

| rowspan=2|July 5, 1950{{Cite web |url=http://www.psp.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_54553_7550_515532_43/http%3B/pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_general_government_operations/dgs/community_content/publications_and_media_services/subcommunities/publications/portlets/volume_119/office_of_attorney_general.doc |title=Office of Attorney General |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of State |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6C39KfCaJ?url=http://www.psp.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_54553_7550_515532_43/http;/pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_general_government_operations/dgs/community_content/publications_and_media_services/subcommunities/publications |archive-date=November 9, 2012 |access-date=November 9, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

| rowspan=2|March 2, 1951{{Cite news|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|title=Margiotti Bows Out Of Cabinet|agency=Associated Press|page=2|date=March 3, 1951|access-date=November 9, 2012|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=reYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3966%2C573809}}

style="height: 2ex"

| rowspan="3" style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

| rowspan=3|John S. Fine

| Robert E. Woodside

| March 7, 1951

| October 1, 1953{{Cite book|title=Official Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania for the Years 1953 and 1954 |quote=Robert E. Woodside (Resigned October 1, 1953); Frank F. Truscott (Commissioned October 13, 1953) |url=http://search.attorneygeneral.gov/Documents/AG%20Opinions/PA_Official_Opinions_of_the_Attorney_General_1953-1954.pdf |access-date=November 9, 2012 |date=1954 |publisher=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305111914/http://search.attorneygeneral.gov/Documents/AG%20Opinions/PA_Official_Opinions_of_the_Attorney_General_1953-1954.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

| Frank Truscott

| October 13, 1953

| January 18, 1955

| Herbert B. Cohen

| January 18, 1955{{Cite book|title=Official Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania for the Years 1955 and 1956 |quote=Herbert B. Cohen (Commissioned January 18, 1955, Resigned December 17, 1956); Thomas D. McBride (Commissioned December 17, 1956) |url=http://search.attorneygeneral.gov/Documents/AG%20Opinions/PA_Official_Opinions_of_the_Attorney_General_1955-1956.pdf |access-date=November 9, 2012 |date=1956 |publisher=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305152204/http://search.attorneygeneral.gov/Documents/AG%20Opinions/PA_Official_Opinions_of_the_Attorney_General_1955-1956.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

| December 17, 1956

| rowspan="2" style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

| rowspan=2|George M. Leader

| Thomas D. McBride

| December 17, 1956

| January 20, 1959

| Anne X. Alpern

| January 20, 1959

| August 28, 1961{{Cite book|title=Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania: 1961–1962 |quote=Anne X. Alpern (Resigned August 28, 1961); David Stahl (Commissioned August 29, 1961) |url=http://search.attorneygeneral.gov/Documents/AG%20Opinions/PA_Official_Opinions_of_the_Attorney_General_1961-1962.pdf |access-date=November 9, 2012 |date=1962 |publisher=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305113805/http://search.attorneygeneral.gov/Documents/AG%20Opinions/PA_Official_Opinions_of_the_Attorney_General_1961-1962.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

| rowspan="2" style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

| rowspan=2|David L. Lawrence

| David Henry Stahl

| August 29, 1961

| January 15, 1963

| Walter E. Alessandroni

| January 15, 1963

| May 8, 1966{{Cite book|title=Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania: 1963–1966 |quote=Walter E. Alessandroni (Died May 8, 1966); Edward Friedman (May 11, 1966 to January 17, 1967) |url=http://search.attorneygeneral.gov/Documents/AG%20Opinions/PA_Official_Opinions_of_the_Attorney_General_1963-1966.pdf |access-date=November 9, 2012 |date=1966 |publisher=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305131826/http://search.attorneygeneral.gov/Documents/AG%20Opinions/PA_Official_Opinions_of_the_Attorney_General_1963-1966.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

| rowspan="2" style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

| rowspan=2|William Scranton

| Edward Friedman

| May 11, 1966

| January 17, 1967

| William C. Sennett

| January 17, 1967

| July 3, 1970{{Cite court|litigants=Commonwealth v. Rozier|vol=67|reporter=Pa. D. & C. 2d|opinion=536|pinpoint=539|court=Common Pleas Court of York County, Pennsylvania,|date=1974|quote=...he went out of office on July 3, 1970|url=http://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?page=2&xmldoc=197460367PaDampC2d536_1511.xml&docbase=CSLWAR1-1950-1985|access-date=November 9, 2012}}

| rowspan="2" style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

| rowspan=2|Raymond P. Shafer

| Fred Speaker

| July 4, 1970

| January 19, 1971

| J. Shane Creamer

| January 25, 1971

| December 31, 1972{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nnMUAAAAIBAJ&pg=7283%2C485905|access-date=November 9, 2012|date=January 2, 1973|newspaper=Toledo Blade|page=7|title=2 Crime Unit Members Ousted In Pennsylvania|agency=Associated Press|quote=On Sunday, Gov. Milton J. Shapp...forced the resignation of Attorney General J. Shane Creamer....}}{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JwMcAAAAIBAJ&pg=7245%2C1564943|title=Probe Centers on Free Booze Charge|newspaper=Pittsburgh Press|date=September 6, 1973|page=2|first=John|last=Taylor|quote=...Creamer was ousted last Dec. 31|access-date=November 9, 2012}}

| rowspan="5" style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

| rowspan=5|Milton Shapp

| Israel Packel

| January 2, 1973

| December 23, 1974{{Cite news|title=Shapp Names Kane As New Attorney General|quote=...Israel Packel, who submitted his resignation letter Monday.|page=2|newspaper=The News-Dispatch|date=December 27, 1974|access-date=November 9, 2012|agency=United Press International|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MRhXAAAAIBAJ&pg=3433%2C7722969}}

| Robert P. Kane

| January 6, 1975

| June 7, 1978{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nuxdAAAAIBAJ&pg=2772%2C1102925|access-date=November 9, 2012|date=June 8, 1978|newspaper=Observer–Reporter|page=A-6|title=Gerald Gornish Takes Attorney General Post|agency=Associated Press|quote=Kane bowed out quietly Wednesday....}}

| Gerald Gornish

| June 7, 1978

| December 31, 1978

| J. Justin Blewitt Jr. (acting)

| January 1, 1979{{Cite book|title=Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania: 1979–1981 |quote=J. Justin Blewitt, Jr., acting Attorney General (January 1, 1979 to January 16, 1979); Edward G. Biester, Jr., Attorney General (January 16, 1979 to May 19, 1980); Harvey Bartle III, Attorney General (May 20, 1980 to January 20, 1981) |url=http://search.attorneygeneral.gov/Documents/AG%20Opinions/PA_Official_Opinions_of_the_Attorney_General_1979-1981.pdf |access-date=November 9, 2012 |date=1981 |publisher=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305112727/http://search.attorneygeneral.gov/Documents/AG%20Opinions/PA_Official_Opinions_of_the_Attorney_General_1979-1981.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

| January 16, 1979

60px

| Edward G. Biester Jr.

| January 16, 1979

| May 19, 1980

| rowspan="2" style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

| rowspan="2"|Dick Thornburgh

60px

| Harvey Bartle III

| May 20, 1980

| January 20, 1981

=Occupants of the elected Pennsylvania Attorney General office (1981–present)=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! style="width: 2em;"|Image

! colspan=2 style="width: 12em;"|Name

! style="width: 12em;"|Took office

! style="width: 12em;"|Left office

|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px; width: 6px;" | 

|LeRoy S. Zimmerman

|January 20, 1981{{Cite news|last=Jensen|first=Edward|title=Three state officials take oaths of office|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5OsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5417,2950827|access-date=November 13, 2012|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=January 21, 1981|page=5}}

|January 17, 1989{{cite news|title=Casey welcomes Knoll, Hafer, Preate to office|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZAQOAAAAIBAJ&pg=3282,3980372|access-date=November 13, 2012|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=January 18, 1989|agency=Associated Press|page=1}}

|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

|Ernie Preate

|January 17, 1989

|June 23, 1995{{Cite news|title=Preate Is Gone But Not Quite Forgotten The Attorney General's Resignation Became Official Yesterday |first=Robert |last=Moran |date=June 24, 1995 |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |page=A-1 |url=http://articles.philly.com/1995-06-24/news/25692837_1_ernie-preate-robert-r-gentzel-attorney-general-preate |access-date=November 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304091448/http://articles.philly.com/1995-06-24/news/25692837_1_ernie-preate-robert-r-gentzel-attorney-general-preate |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

|Walter W. Cohen (acting)

|June 26, 1995

|October 3, 1995{{Cite news|page=1|newspaper=Reading Eagle|title=Corbett sworn in, pledges review of probe|first=John D. Jr.|last=Forester|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vyAyAAAAIBAJ&pg=1300%2C3190342|date=October 4, 1995|access-date=November 13, 2012}}

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|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

|Tom Corbett

|October 3, 1995

|January 21, 1997

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|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

|Mike Fisher

|January 21, 1997

|December 15, 2003{{Cite news|first=Torsten|last=Ove|date=December 16, 2004|url=http://old.post-gazette.com/localnews/20041216judges1216p4.asp|title=Fisher sworn in as federal judge|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=November 13, 2012}}

60px

|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

|Jerry Pappert

|December 18, 2003

|January 18, 2005

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|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

|Tom Corbett

|January 18, 2005

|January 18, 2011{{Cite news|first1=Brad |last1=Bumsted |first2=Mike |last2=Wereschagin |date=January 18, 2011 |url=http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/election/s_718706.html |newspaper=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |access-date=November 13, 2012 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221307/http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/election/s_718706.html |title=Corbett promises fiscal discipline, responsible government as he takes oath |url-status=dead }}

|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

|William Ryan (acting)

|January 18, 2011

|May 27, 2011

|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

|Linda Kelly

|May 27, 2011{{Cite press release|access-date=November 13, 2012 |date=May 27, 2011 |url=http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=6120 |title=Linda L. Kelly becomes Pennsylvania Attorney General |publisher=Pennsylvania Attorney General |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902004137/http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=6120 |archive-date=September 2, 2012 |quote=Attorney General Linda L. Kelly took the oath of office today during a private ceremony in Harrisburg, officially assuming the powers and duties of Pennsylvania's top law enforcement officer. |url-status=dead }}

|January 15, 2013

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|Kathleen Kane

|January 15, 2013{{cite news|last=Olson|first=Laura|title=Three Democratic row officers sworn in|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/three-democratic-row-officers-sworn-in-670483/|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=January 15, 2013}}

|August 17, 2016

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|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

|Bruce Castor (acting)

|August 17, 2016

|August 31, 2016

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|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

|Bruce Beemer

|August 31, 2016

|January 17, 2017

60px

|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

|Josh Shapiro

|January 17, 2017

|January 17, 2023

|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}; padding: 0px;" | 

|Michelle Henry

|January 17, 2023
{{small|Acting January 17, 2023 – March 8, 2023}}

|January 21, 2025

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| Dave Sunday

|January 21, 2025

|present

See also

{{Portal|Pennsylvania}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

  • [https://www.attorneygeneral.gov Pennsylvania Attorney General] official website
  • [http://www.abajournal.com/search/results/search&keywords=Pennsylvania+Attorney+General/ Pennsylvania Attorney General] articles at ABA Journal
  • [http://public.findlaw.com/LCsearch.html?restrict=consumer&entry=%22Pennsylvania+Attorney+General%22 News and Commentary] at FindLaw
  • [http://law.justia.com/codes/pennsylvania/ Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes] at Law.Justia.com
  • [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&navby=title&v1=State+of+Pennsylvania U.S. Supreme Court Opinions - "Cases with title containing: State of Pennsylvania"] at FindLaw
  • [http://www.pabar.org/ Pennsylvania Bar Association]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20150317155747/http://www.naag.org/naag/attorneys-general/whos-my-ag/pennsylvania/kathleen-kane.php Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane profile] at National Association of Attorneys General
  • [https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/Media_and_Resources/Press_Releases/ Press releases] at Pennsylvania Attorney General

{{U.S. state attorneys general}}

{{United States topic|title =Attorneys General of the Individual States|prefix=Attorney General of|GA=Georgia|NY=New York|WA=Washington}}

{{Pennsylvania Attorneys General}}

{{Pennsylvania statewide elected officials}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Lists of Pennsylvania politicians

Category:1683 establishments in Pennsylvania

Attorneys general