what are the duties of your state attorney general in arkansas

by Della Miller 4 min read

The attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer of the state of Arkansas. He or she serves as legal representation for state agencies and officers, provides official opinions on legal issues and represents the state in criminal appeals.

What does the Attorney General of Arkansas do?

Aug 19, 2021 · The post of Attorney General of the state of Arkansas of America is among one of the seven constitutional officers of the state. The person holding this post serves as the state’s top law enforcement officer and consumer advocate for the state. earlier the post of Attorney General in the state was not a post of constitutional officer.

How do I file a complaint with the Arkansas Attorney General?

If your complaint involves the Arkansas State Police, you may wish to contact the Arkansas State Police Office of Professional Standards by calling Sergeant Marcus Daniels at (501) 618-8210. The Attorney General does not have oversight over local or state law enforcement agencies.

What services does the Attorney General's Office offer?

Feb 15, 2022 · Rutledge Releases Statement on the Passing of Longtime North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem January 28, 2022 9:44 pm LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today released the following statement …

Is the Attorney General of a state responsible for managing lawyers?

Dec 09, 2021 · The attorney general, one of the state’s seven constitutional offices, is the state’s top law enforcement officer and consumer advocate. The office of attorney general was not originally a constitutional office but rather was created by Act 1 of 1843, which designated the state’s attorney for its Fifth Judicial District as the attorney general. The first attorney general …

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What is one power that the attorney general of Arkansas has?

Act 131 of 1911 laid out four general responsibilities of the attorney general's office: 1) to give opinions to state officers and agencies “upon any constitutional or other legal question that may concern the official action of said officers”; 2) to defend the interest of the state in federal court and representing ...Dec 9, 2021

What are the duties and responsibilities of the attorney general?

The principal duties of the Attorney General are to:Represent the United States in legal matters.Supervise and direct the administration and operation of the offices, boards, divisions, and bureaus that comprise the Department.More items...•Oct 8, 2021

What is the most important duty of state attorney general?

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.

What power 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.

What is the difference between Attorney General and Solicitor General?

The attorney general is usually a highly respected senior advocate of the court, and is appointed by the ruling government. ... The solicitor general is the second law officer of the state after the attorney general.Jan 14, 2006

What is the role of a state's attorney general quizlet?

The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states and territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. a public official who acts as prosecutor for the state or the federal government in court in a particular district.

Is attorney general a public office?

New Delhi: The Delhi high court on Friday found that the office of the attorney general would not be a public authority and fall within the ambit the Right to Information Act (RTI).Feb 3, 2017

What does the Attorney General do?

The Attorney General represents state agencies and commissions in courts of law, giving opinions on issues presented by legislators and prosecutors, handling criminal matters and habeas corpus matters in the state, and advocating for citizens on issues pertaining to the environment, antitrust, and consumer protection.

Who was the first attorney general of Arkansas?

The first Attorney General of Arkansas was Robert W. Johnson.

What to do if you suspect a child is in danger?

If there is any reason to suspect the life of a child is in imminent danger, immediately contact the nearest local law enforcement agency or 911. You may also want to contact a Children’s Advocacy Center. More information can be found on the Arkansas Department of Human Services Child Protective Services page.

Can the Attorney General of Arkansas provide legal advice?

Because the primary restriction placed upon the Arkansas Attorney General’s office by State law is that the Attorney General is prohibited from the private practice of law, the Attorney General cannot provide legal advice (Ark. Code Ann. § 25-16-701).

What is the job of an attorney general?

The attorney general is the chief legal representative for the state and serves as general counsel for most of the state’s government agencies. Each state’s attorney general manages all legal representation of the state in civil and criminal matters on a state and federal level. Most attorneys general manage specific assistance programs ...

Who is responsible for enforcing the law?

The State's Attorney General is the head of the state's legal office and is responsible for enforcing the law. A state’s attorney general is responsible for enforcing the law in the state where he or she was elected. The attorney general is the chief legal representative for the state and serves as general counsel for most ...

What is the job of a state attorney general?

Each state's attorney general is charged with the responsibility of enforcing the laws, as well as the ability to pass new legislation. The state attorney general also has the higher purpose of protecting the people of the state and their interests. Attorney general duties include providing consumer ...

How long does it take to get a law degree?

Then, prospective lawyers take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and apply to law schools. Finishing law school generally takes three years. Some states have minimum age requirements for their AGs, while others do not.

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Current Officeholder

Authority

Qualifications

  • The Arkansas Constitutionrequires all elected or appointed officeholders to be an elector. That is, they must fulfill the state's voter registration requirements—being a U.S. citizen, a resident of Arkansas and at least 18 years old. Felons and citizens judged to be mentally incompetent by a court are also ineligible to vote and, by extension, to hold office. Other requirements to complet…
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Elections

  • Arkansans elect their attorneys general for four-year terms during federal midterm election years (e.g. 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026). Attorneys general, like all Arkansas executives, served two-year terms until 1982, when Amendment 63 to the Constitution of Arkansasincreased the term length to its current level. The first elections held under the new system occurred in 1986, and every fo…
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Vacancies

  • Per Article 6, Section 22 of the Arkansas Constitution, when the office of attorney general becomes vacant "by death, resignation, or otherwise," the governor appoints a replacement to complete the unexpired term.
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Duties

  • The office of attorney general's duties include representing state agencies and officers in court and providing them with legal advice and opinions related to their official duties. The attorney general also enforces state consumer protection, antitrust and environmental law. He or she pursues fraud cases regarding the state Medicaid program and handles "all criminal appeals a
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Divisions

  • As of January 12, 2021, the attorney general's office includes several divisions, including: 1. Antitrust Bureau 2. Charities 3. Civil Litigation 4. Communications/Media 5. Community Relations 6. Consumer Protection Division 7. Consumer Utility Rate Advocacy Division 8. Criminal Department 9. Environmental Division 10. Health Care Bureau 11. Medicaid Fraud Control Unit 1…
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Compensation

  • The compensation of all state constitutional officers is set by Amendment 70 to the Arkansas Constitution. Salaries can be adjusted each year by the Arkansas State Legislature, though salary increases cannot exceed the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index.
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Historical Officeholders

  • Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Attorney General of Arkansas has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any a…
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Recent News

  • The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Arkansas Attorney General Rutledge.These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
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Overview

The Attorney General of Arkansas, usually known simply as the Attorney General (AG), is one of Arkansas's seven constitutional officers. The officeholder serves as the state's top law enforcement officer and consumer advocate. Since January 13, 2015, the Attorney General of Arkansas has been Leslie Rutledge.

History

The Attorney General was not originally a state constitutional officer but rather was created by Act 1 of 1843, which designated the Arkansas Attorney for the Fifth Judicial District as the attorney general. The first Attorney General of Arkansas was Robert W. Johnson. The Arkansas Constitution of 1868 made the post elective, though it required only that the attorney general “perform such duties as are now, or may hereafter, be prescribed by law.” This was reaffirmed in …

Role and duties

The Attorney General represents state agencies and commissions in courts of law, giving opinions on issues presented by legislators and prosecutors, handling criminal matters and habeas corpus matters in the state, and advocating for citizens on issues pertaining to the environment, antitrust, and consumer protection.

List of attorneys general

• Robert W. Johnson (1843)
• Geo. C. Watkins (1843–1851)
• J. J. Clendenin (1851–1856)
• Thomas Johnson (1856–1858)

See also

• Attorney General of the United States

External links

Official
• Official website
General information
• Attorney General of Arkansas at Ballotpedia
• Attorneys General of Arkansas at The Political Graveyard