Login
Login

State attorney general

{{Short description|Chief law enforcement official in a U.S. state or territory}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}

[[File:Party affiliation of current United States attorneys general.svg|thumb|400x400px|Party affiliation of current United States attorneys general:

{{legend|#3333FF|Democratic (25)}}

{{legend|#FF3333|Republican (28)}}

{{legend|#EED202|Independent (2)}}

{{legend|#161687|New Progressive (1)}}]]

{{US state gov}}

The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states, of the federal district, or of any of the territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. In some states, the attorney general serves as the head of a state department of justice, with responsibilities similar to those of the United States Department of Justice.

Selection

The most prevalent method of selecting a state's attorney general is by popular election. 43 states have an elected attorney general.{{cite news|last1=Moretto|first1=Mario|title=LePage sheds light on plan to strip Legislature of power to elect attorney general, treasurer|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2015/01/23/politics/lepage-sheds-light-on-plan-to-strip-legislature-of-power-to-appoint-attorney-general-treasurer/|access-date=January 16, 2016|agency=Bangor Daily News|publisher=Bangor Publishing Company|date=January 23, 2015}} Elected attorneys general serve a four-year term, except in Vermont, where the term is two years.{{cite web|title=Elections for Attorney General to Take Place in 30 States|url=http://www.naag.org/publications/naagazette/volume-4-number-1/elections-for-attorneys-general-to-take-place-in-30-states.php|website=National Association of Attorneys General|publisher=National Association of Attorneys General|access-date=January 16, 2016|archive-date=August 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808040010/https://www.naag.org/publications/naagazette/volume-4-number-1/elections-for-attorneys-general-to-take-place-in-30-states.php|url-status=dead}}

Seven states do not popularly elect an attorney general. In Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Wyoming, the attorney general is appointed by the governor. The attorney general in Tennessee is appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court for an eight-year term. In Maine, the attorney general is elected by the state Legislature for a two-year term.

The District of Columbia and two U.S. territories, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, elect their attorneys general for a four-year term. 2014 marked the first year that the District of Columbia and the Northern Mariana Islands held an election for the office. In American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the attorney general is appointed by the governor.{{cite web|title=2014 State and Territorial Attorneys General Election Results|url=http://www.naag.org/publications/naagazette/volume-4-number-1/elections-for-attorneys-general-to-take-place-in-30-states.php|website=National Association of Attorneys General|access-date=January 16, 2016|archive-date=August 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808040010/https://www.naag.org/publications/naagazette/volume-4-number-1/elections-for-attorneys-general-to-take-place-in-30-states.php|url-status=dead}} In Puerto Rico, the attorney general is officially called the secretary of justice, but is commonly known as the Puerto Rico attorney general.{{cite web|title=AG Spotlight: New Attorneys General|url=http://www.naag.org/publications/naagazette/volume-8-number-1/ag-spotlight-new-attorneys-general.php|website=National Association of Attorneys General|access-date=January 16, 2016|archive-date=October 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025054753/http://www.naag.org/publications/naagazette/volume-8-number-1/ag-spotlight-new-attorneys-general.php|url-status=dead}}

Many states have passed term limits limiting the selection to 2 consecutive terms (9 states); 2 terms maximum (4 states), but 33 states have no term limits.{{cite web|title=Attorneys General with term limits|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Attorneys_General_with_term_limits|publisher=Ballotpedia|access-date=August 29, 2019}}

Defense of the state in federal lawsuits

State attorneys general enforce both state and federal laws. Because they are sworn to uphold the United States' constitution and laws as well as the state's, they may decline to defend a state law in federal preemption case.{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Amber |title=Is it legal for North Carolina's attorney general to not defend the state's bathroom law? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/05/15/is-it-legal-for-north-carolinas-attorney-general-to-not-defend-the-states-bathroom-law-probably/?noredirect=on |access-date=November 10, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 15, 2016}}

Current attorneys general

The current party composition of the state attorneys general is:

The composition for the District of Columbia and the 5 populated territories is:

Rows of the attorney general table below are color coded indicating the political party of the office holder.

class="wikitable sortable"
Officeholder

!State

!Party

!Assumed office

!Term expires

!Law school

!Term limits

{{sortname|Steve|Marshall|dab=politician}}

|Alabama

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2017|2|10}}

|2027 (term limits)

|University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

|2 consecutive terms

Treg Taylor

|Alaska

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2021|1|30}}

|Appointed

|Brigham Young University

|no term limits

{{sortname|Fainu'ulelei|Alailima-Utu }}

|American Samoa

|{{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} |Nonpartisan

|{{dts|format=mdy|2021|1|21}}

|Appointed

|University of California, Los Angeles

|

{{sortname|Kris|Mayes}}

|Arizona

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2023|1|2}}

|2027

|Arizona State University, Tempe

|2 consecutive terms

{{sortname|Tim|Griffin}}

|Arkansas

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2023|1|10}}

|2027

|Tulane University

| 2 terms maximum

{{sortname|Rob|Bonta}}

|California

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2021|4|23}}

|2027

|Yale University

|2 terms maximum

{{sortname|Phil|Weiser}}

|Colorado

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2019|1|8}}

|2027 (term limits)

|New York University

| 2 consecutive terms

{{sortname|William|Tong}}

|Connecticut

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2019|1|9}}

|2027

|University of Chicago

| no term limits

{{sortname|Kathy|Jennings}}

|Delaware

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2019|1|1}}

|2027

|Villanova University

| no term limits

{{sortname|Brian|Schwalb}}

|District of Columbia

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2023|1|2}}

|2027

|Harvard University

|

{{sortname|James|Uthmeier}}

|Florida

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2025|2|17}}

|2027

|Georgetown University

| 2 consecutive terms

{{sortname|Chris|Carr|Christopher M. Carr}}

|Georgia

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2016|11|1}}

|2027

|University of Georgia

| no term limits

{{sortname|Doug|Moylan|Douglas Moylan}}

|Guam

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2023|1|2}}

|2027

|Santa Clara University

|

{{sortname|Anne|Lopez|Anne E. Lopez}}

|Hawaii

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2022|12|5}}

|Appointed

|University of Hawaii, Manoa

| no term limits

{{sortname|Raúl|Labrador}}

|Idaho

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2023|1|2}}

|2027

|University of Washington, Seattle

| no term limits

{{sortname|Kwame|Raoul}}

|Illinois

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2019|1|14}}

|2027

|Illinois Institute of Technology

| no term limits

{{sortname|Todd|Rokita}}

|Indiana

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2021|1|11}}

|2029

|Indiana University, Indianapolis

| no term limits

{{sortname|Brenna|Bird}}

|Iowa

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2023|1|3}}

|2027

|University of Chicago

| no term limits

{{sortname|Kris|Kobach}}

|Kansas

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2023|1|9}}

|2027

|Yale University

| no term limits

{{sortname|Russell|Coleman}}

|Kentucky

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2024|01|01}}

|2028

|University of Kentucky

| 2 consecutive terms

{{sortname|Liz|Murrill}}

|Louisiana

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2024|1|8}}

|2028

|Louisiana State University
Pepperdine University {{small|(LLM)}}

| no term limits

{{sortname|Aaron|Frey}}

|Maine

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2019|1|2}}

|2025 (Elected by the Legislature)

|Roger Williams University

| 4 two year terms

{{sortname|Anthony|Brown|dab=Maryland politician}}

|Maryland

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2023|1|3}}

|2027

|Harvard University

| no term limits

{{sortname|Andrea|Campbell}}

|Massachusetts

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2023|1|18}}

|2027

|University of California, Los Angeles

| no term limits

{{sortname|Dana|Nessel}}

|Michigan

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2019|1|1}}

|2027 (term limits)

|Wayne State University

| 2 terms max

{{sortname|Keith|Ellison}}

|Minnesota

|{{Party shading/DFL}} |Democratic (DFL)

|{{dts|format=mdy|2019|1|7}}

|2027

|University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

|no term limits

{{sortname|Lynn|Fitch}}

|Mississippi

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2020|1|9}}

|2028

|University of Mississippi, Oxford

| no term limits

{{sortname|Andrew|Bailey|dab=politician}}

|Missouri

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2023|1|3}}

|2029

|University of Missouri, Columbia

| no term limits

{{sortname|Austin|Knudsen}}

|Montana

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2021|1|4}}

|2029

|University of Montana

| 2 terms in 16-year period

{{sortname|Mike|Hilgers}}

|Nebraska

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2023|1|5}}

|2027

|University of Chicago

| no term limits

{{sortname|Aaron D.|Ford}}

|Nevada

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2019|1|7}}

|2027 (term limits)

|Ohio State University, Columbus

| 2 terms max

{{sortname|John|Formella}}

|New Hampshire

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2021|4|22}}

|2025 (appointed)

|George Washington University

| no term limits

{{sortname|Matthew|Platkin}}

|New Jersey

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2022|2|14}}

|Appointed

|Stanford University

| no term limits

{{sortname|Raúl|Torrez}}

|New Mexico

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2023|1|1}}

|2027

|Stanford University

| 2 consecutive terms

{{sortname|Letitia|James}}

|New York

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2019|1|1}}

|2027

|Howard University

| no term limits

{{sortname|Jeff|Jackson|dab=politician}}

|North Carolina

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2025|1|1}}

|2029

|University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

| no term limits

{{sortname|Drew|Wrigley}}

|North Dakota

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2022|2|9}}

|2027

|American University

| no term limits

{{sortname|Edward|Manibusan}}

|Northern Mariana Islands

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2015|1|13}}

|2027

|Gonzaga University

|

{{sortname|Dave|Yost}}

|Ohio

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2019|1|14}}

|2027 (term limits)

|Capital University

| 2 consecutive terms

{{sortname|Gentner|Drummond}}

|Oklahoma

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2023|1|9}}

|2027

|Georgetown University

| 2 terms max

{{sortname|Dan|Rayfield}}

|Oregon

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2024|12|31}}

|2029

|Willamette University

| no term limits

{{sortname|Dave|Sunday|dab=politician}}

|Pennsylvania

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2025|1|21}}

|2029

|Widener University (Delaware)

| 2 consecutive terms

{{sortname|Janet|Parra Mercado}}
{{small|Acting}}

|Puerto RicoThe title of the head of Puerto Rico's Justice Department is the Secretary of Justice, not Attorney General.

|{{Party shading/New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico}} |New Progressive

|{{dts|format=mdy|2025|1|2}}

|Appointed

|

|

{{sortname|Peter|Neronha}}

|Rhode Island

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2019|1|1}}

|2027 (term limits)

|Boston College

| 2 consecutive terms

{{sortname|Alan|Wilson|dab=South Carolina politician}}

|South Carolina

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2011|1|12}}

|2027

|University of South Carolina, Columbia

| no term limits

{{sortname|Marty|Jackley}}

|South Dakota

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2023|1|3}}

|2027

|University of South Dakota

| 2 consecutive terms

{{sortname|Jonathan|Skrmetti}}

|Tennessee

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2022|9|1}}

|2030 (Elected by State Supreme Court)

|Harvard University

| no term limits

{{sortname|Ken|Paxton}}

|Texas

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2015|1|5}}
{{small|Suspended: May 27, 2023 – September 16, 2023}}

|2027

|University of Notre Dame

|no term limits

{{sortname|Gordon|Rhea|Gordon C. Rhea}}

|U.S. Virgin Islands

|{{Party shading/Nonpartisan}} |Nonpartisan

|{{dts|format=mdy|2024|4|29}}

|Appointed

|Stanford University

|

{{sortname|Derek|Brown|dab=politician}}

|Utah

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2025|1|6}}

|2029

|Pepperdine University

| no term limits

{{sortname|Charity|Clark}}

|Vermont

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2023|1|5}}

|2027

|Boston College

| no term limits

{{sortname|Jason|Miyares}}

|Virginia

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2022|1|15}}

|2026

|College of William and Mary

| no term limits

{{sortname|Nick|Brown|Nicholas W. Brown (lawyer)}}

|Washington

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2025|1|15}}

|2029

|Harvard University

| no term limits

{{sortname|JB|McCuskey}}

|West Virginia

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2025|1|13}}

|2029

|West Virginia University

| no term limits

{{sortname|Josh|Kaul}}

|Wisconsin

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic

|{{dts|format=mdy|2019|1|7}}

|2027

|Stanford University

| no term limits

{{sortname|Bridget|Hill|dab=politician}}

|Wyoming

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Republican

|{{dts|format=mdy|2019|1|7}}

|Appointed

|University of Wyoming

| no term limits

See also

References

{{reflist|2}}

External links

{{Sister project links|attorney general}}

  • [http://www.naag.org/attorneys_general.php Listing of official State Attorney General websites]

{{U.S. State Attorneys General}}

{{U.S. state cabinets|state=collapsed}}

{{USStateLists}}

Category:State government in the United States