how often do attorney generals get appointed

by Aida Rippin MD 9 min read

43 states have an elected attorney general. Elected attorneys general serve a four-year term, except in Vermont, where the term is two years. Seven states do not popularly elect an attorney general. In Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Wyoming, the attorney general is a gubernatorial appointee.

Should the Attorney General be elected or appointed?

57 rows · Elected attorneys general serve a four-year term, except in Vermont, where the term is two years. Seven states do not popularly elect an attorney general. In Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Wyoming, the attorney general is a gubernatorial appointee. The attorney general in Tennessee is appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court for an eight-year …

Is there a term limit for the Attorney General?

In 16 states, the office of Attorney General is subject to term limits. Most states with term limits specify that an office-holder may serve two consecutive terms. Most states do not specify that the two terms are an absolute limit, so that a former Attorney General may usually run again after a time, usually unspecified, out of office.

What states have a governor who appoints the Attorney General?

The attorney general is appointed by the state Legislature in Maine, by the state Supreme Court in Tennessee, and by the governor in the remaining five states. Compensation According to compensation figures for 2017 compiled by the Council of State Governments in the Book of the States , the highest salary for an attorney general is $182,688 in Tennessee , while the lowest …

How long is the term for Attorney General in New Jersey?

Attorneys general are the top legal officers of their state or territory. They advise and represent their legislature and state agencies and act as the “People’s Lawyer” for the citizens. Most are elected, though a few are appointed by the governor. Select your state to connect to your state attorney general's website.

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How long do US attorney generals serve?

four-year
Under the state Constitution, the Attorney General is elected to a four-year term in the same statewide election as the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Controller, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Insurance Commissioner.

How is US Attorney General appointed?

The United States attorney general is the head of the U.S. Department of Justice. The position requires a presidential nomination and subsequent confirmation by the United States Senate.

How many U.S. attorneys are appointed?

Ninety-three United States Attorneys
Assignments. Ninety-three United States Attorneys are stationed throughout the United States and its territories. One U.S. Attorney is assigned to each of the judicial districts, with the exception of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands where a single U.S. Attorney serves both districts.

How many attorney generals are there in New York?

New York Former Attorneys General
Barbara Underwood (Acting)2018
Eric Schneiderman2011 – 2018
Andrew M. Cuomo2007 – 2010
Eliot Spitzer1999 – 2006
Dennis Vacco1995 – 1998
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Who appoints the US attorney general?

The President
The President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, an Attorney General of the United States. The Attorney General is the head of the Department of Justice. (Added Pub. L.

Is the attorney general of the United States elected?

Attorneys general are the top legal officers of their state or territory. They advise and represent their legislature and state agencies and act as the “People's Lawyer” for the citizens. Most are elected, though a few are appointed by the governor. Select your state to connect to your state attorney general's website.

Are all U.S. attorneys appointed?

The U.S. attorney is appointed by the President of the United States for a term of four years, with appointments subject to confirmation by the Senate. A U.S. attorney continues in office, beyond the appointed term, until a successor is appointed and qualified.

How many U.S. attorneys has Biden nominated?

As of April 27, 2022, President Biden had nominated 48 people to be U.S. attorneys, and 40 of them were confirmed. There are a total of 93 U.S. attorneys in the Department of Justice.

What powers does the US attorney general have?

As the chief officer of the Department of Justice, the attorney general enforces federal laws, provides legal counsel in federal cases, interprets the laws that govern executive departments, heads federal jails and penal institutions, and examines alleged violations of federal laws.

Is the New York Attorney General elected or appointed?

Attorneys general have been elected by the voters since 1847.

How much does the New York Attorney General make?

State executive salaries
Office and current officialSalary
Attorney General of New York Letitia James
New York Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez
New York Public Service Commission James Alesi$127,000
New York Commissioner of Agriculture Richard A. Ball$120,800
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What did Eliot Spitzer do?

On March 10, 2008, The New York Times reported that Democratic Party Governor of New York Eliot Spitzer had patronized a prostitution ring run by an escort service known as Emperors Club VIP.

How much does an attorney general make in 2021?

Attorney General is a Level I position in the Executive Schedule, thus earning a salary of US$ 221,400, as of January 2021.

What is the job of the Attorney General?

The attorney general serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United Stateson all legal matters. The attorney general is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States.

What was the purpose of the Attorney General's Office?

The original duties of this officer were "to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court in which the United States shall be concerned, and to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law when required by the president of the United States, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments". Some of these duties have since been transferred to the United States solicitor general and the White House counsel .

When does the Attorney General have to resign?

Presidential transition[edit] It is the practice for the attorney general, along with the other Cabinet secretaries and high-level political appointees of the President, to tender a resignation with effect on the Inauguration Day(January 20) of a new president.

Who was the attorney general nominee for Clinton?

Gerson was fourth in the line of succession at the Justice Department, but other senior DOJ officials had already resigned.[14] Janet Reno, President Clinton's nominee for attorney general, was confirmed on March 12,[15]and he resigned the same day.

Who was the acting attorney general of the United States in 2017?

For example, upon the inauguration of President Donald Trump on January 20, 2017, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch left her position, so then-Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, who had also tendered her resignation, was asked to stay on to serve as the acting attorney general until the confirmation of the new attorney general Jeff Sessions, who had been nominated for the office in November 2016 by then- President-elect Donald Trump.

When was the Department of Justice established?

The Department of Justice was established in 1870 to support the attorneys general in the discharge of their responsibilities.

How many states have an attorney general?

The attorney general is directly elected in 43 states and Washington, D.C. The attorney general is appointed by the state Legislature in Maine, by the state Supreme Court in Tennessee, and by the governor in the remaining five states. Compensation of state attorneys general (2017)

How much does an attorney general make?

According to compensation figures for 2017 compiled by the Council of State Governments in the Book of the States, the highest salary for an attorney general is $182,688 in Tennessee, while the lowest is $80,000 in Colorado. To view the compensation of a particular attorney general, hover your mouse over the state.

How many attorney generals did the Democratic Party control in 1977?

In 1977, the Democratic Party held a total of 27 elected attorney general offices to the Republican Party 's 16. The Democratic lead in attorney general offices would be maintained through the 1990s, as opposed to the other three top executive offices, which became majority-Republican following the 1994 midterm elections. In the 2010 midterm elections, the Republican Party gained a lead in elected attorney general offices, with 22 elected attorneys general to the Democrats' 21. The Democratic victory in the 2013 Virginia election for attorney general caused the party to briefly regain a 22-21 majority of elected attorney general offices. This lead was lost in the 2014 midterm elections. After that point, the Republican Party continued to grow its majority control of elected attorney general offices.

What is the job of the Attorney General?

The attorney general is an executive office in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., that serves as the chief legal advisor and chief law enforcement officer for the state government and is empowered to prosecute violations of state law, represent the state in legal disputes and issue legal advice to state agencies and the legislature.

How many states have the power to appeal a criminal case?

Attorneys general: Power to represent state in criminal appeals. The attorney general has the power to represent the state in criminal appeals in 46 states, although this power is restricted in five of those states. Attorney general term limits. Attorney general term limits.

How many states were elected in 2012?

2012. Ten states held attorney general elections in the 2012 electoral cycle: Indiana, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia . Heading into the November election, the Democrats held six of the seats and the Republicans held four seats.

Which states have elected an attorney general in 2015?

Three states held elections for attorney general in 2015: Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi. In Kentucky, Andy Beshear (D) won election to the attorney general seat. Democrat Jim Hood was re-elected in Mississippi, while Republican Jeff Landry defeated incumbent Buddy Caldwell, also a Republican, in a runoff in Louisiana.

Who nominates the Attorney General?

The President nominates the U.S. Attorney General who is then confirmed by the Senate. A state Attorney General is either appointed or elected, depending on the state.

What is the job of an attorney general?

An Attorney General is the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer to the government. The United States Attorney General is a Cabinet member and the head of the Department of Justice. Each state also has its own Attorney General. Attorneys General are either elected or appointed to their position. Job duties include providing legal counsel ...

What is the job of a federal prosecutor?

Job duties include providing legal counsel and representing the government in legal matters. They are also responsible for overseeing the enforcement of laws and prosecuting violators as the head of a Department of Justice. Departments of Justice typically include different divisions, for instance, criminal, civil, and law enforcement divisions. ...

What are the different departments of justice?

Departments of Justice typically include different divisions, for instance, criminal, civil, and law enforcement divisions . Many positions exist working under an Attorney General at the state and federal Departments of Justice, including attorneys, investigators, researchers, law enforcement officers, and paralegals.

Why should an attorney general not be appointed?

Partisanship is a problem in attorneys general, but there is no reason why an AG should not be appointed simply because he shares a political outlook with the president.

Why did the DOJ tell the prosecutor to try again?

So the DOJ stepped in and told the prosecuters to try again because that just won’t fly and is not inline with what happened. The DOJ’s job is not to make sure that people get the maximum penalty available. The DOJ felt that the prosecutors put forth too harsh of a recommendation. So they moved to fix it.

What is the executive power of the President?

Article II of the Constitution begins “The executive power vests in a President….” The prosecution of crimes and the conduct of civil litigation on behalf of the government are part of the executive power, the power of enforcing the law. Thus the Attorney General is and should be subordinate to the President. The choices of law enforcement policy is a matter of public policy ultimately up to the people. The people make their choices on policy through elections, which is what politics is about. Since I believe in a democratic republic, I believe that ultimately policy decisions are up to the people, who make their decisions through politics. I am retired from DOJ and my opinions are my own.

How many times did Mueller say Whitewater?

In his massive report, the word Whitewater only appeared three times, but the most graphic and completely unnecessary to the law, sexual descriptions, he made sure to include to embarrass the president.

Should the Attorney General be voted in?

IMO, the Attorney General should be voted in by the people every four years in the national election cycle. This would make the AG much more independent and prevent a president from “stacking the deck” with a close buddy in the office. I also believe the FBI and other investigative bodies should report to the AG and not do the bidding of a president. They could only be removed by impeachment by Congress. My2Cents.

Who is elected to carry out his campaign initiatives?

The President is elected to carry out his campaign initiatives. The various Department Heads are appointed by the President to do that, carry out his campaign initiatives.

Is the Chief Executive of the Country barred from overseeing the Executive Department of our government?

While the Chief Executive of the Country is barred from overseeing the Executive Department (s) of our government.

What is the role of an attorney general?

As chief legal officers of the states, commonwealths, District of Columbia, and territories of the United States, the role of an attorney general is to serve as counselor to state government agencies and legislatures, and as a representative of the public interest.

What is the People's Lawyer podcast?

The People’s Lawyer is a biweekly podcast from NAAG that explores the role of state and territory attorneys general as chief legal officers and their work protecting the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution.

How is the Attorney General appointed?

Five states — Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Wyoming — have AGs appointed by the governor. Maine and Tennessee use different methods altogether — in Maine, the Attorney General is selected by secret ballot of the legislature and in Tennessee, the state AG is appointed by the state Supreme Court.

When did the Office of Corporation Counsel change to Office of the Attorney General?

The change came about in 2004 when then-Mayor Anthony Williams signed an order renaming the “Office of the Corporation Counsel for the District of Columbia” to “the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia.”. The powers and duties of the O.C.C./OAG are similar to those of the Attorneys General of the several states, ...

Which states have AGs?

Five states — Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Wyoming — have AGs appointed by the governor. Maine and Tennessee use different methods altogether — in Maine, the Attorney General is selected by secret ballot of the legislature and in Tennessee, the state AG is appointed by the state Supreme Court.

Should we elect an attorney general?

One of the things to be said in favor of electing an Attorney General is that you don’t have an individual in that job who does nothing more than carry water for the Mayor (or for the Governor). On the other hand, some people worry about the ability of an elected Attorney General to properly prosecute cases of fraud on the government because such cases are sometimes (but not always) against the sorts of companies who contribute to state wide campaigns.

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