what does attorney general do texas

What does the Attorney General in Texas do?

Protecting Texans from fraud, waste and abuse by enforcing consumer protection and antitrust laws, educating consumers on fraudulent scams, and seeking recovery from Medicaid fraudsters in civil action.

What are the duties 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.

Is Texas Attorney General a lawyer?

The Attorney General of Texas is the chief lawyer and legal officer for the state of Texas. According to the Texas Constitution, the attorney general defends the laws and the constitution of the state of Texas, represents the state in litigation, and approves public bond issues.

How many attorney generals are in Texas?

OfficeholdersNo.NameTerm of service47Dan Morales1991–199948John Cornyn1999–200249Greg Abbott2002–201550Ken Paxton2015–present46 more rows

How powerful is the attorney general?

The United States attorney general (AG) leads the United States Department of Justice, and is the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government of the United States. The attorney general serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all legal matters.

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

File a ComplaintConsumer Protection Complaints. Consumer Protection Hotline: (800) 621-0508. ... Sanctuary Complaints. Sanctuary Complaints Hotline: (844) 584-3006. ... Handgun License Holder Complaints. Handgun License Holder Complaints Hotline: (844) 584-3006. ... Charitable Trusts Complaints. File a Complaint.

Who appoints the attorney general?

the PresidentAttorney General is appointed by the President on the advice of the government. There are the following qualifications: He should be an Indian Citizen. He must have either completed 5 years in High Court of any Indian state as a judge or 10 years in High Court as an advocate.

Who is the current Attorney General of Texas?

Ken Paxton (Republican Party)Texas / Attorney generalKen Paxton is the 51st Attorney General of Texas. He was elected on November 4, 2014, and sworn into office on January 5, 2015. He was re-elected to a second term in 2018. As the state's top law enforcement officer, Attorney General Paxton leads more than 4,000 employees in 38 divisions and 117 offices around Texas.

Why would I get a letter from the Office of the Attorney General?

A target letter is commonly used in white collar cases and it is a way for the federal government to notify you that you are a target of a criminal investigation. A target is defined by the United States Attorney's Office as someone against whom there is substantial evidence.

Who is the current attorney general?

Merrick GarlandUnited States / Attorney generalMerrick Brian Garland is an American lawyer and jurist serving as the 86th United States attorney general beginning in March 2021. He served as a circuit judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1997 to 2021. Wikipedia

How do I get in touch with the Texas attorney general?

In addition, our open government publications are available on our Web site at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov or upon request by calling (512) 475-4413.

Who are the assistant attorney generals in Texas?

Ken Paxton's Leadership TeamBRENT WEBSTER: First Assistant Attorney General. ... GRANT DORFMAN: Deputy First Assistant Attorney General. ... LESLEY FRENCH: Chief of Staff. ... SHAWN COWLES: Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation. ... JOSH RENO: Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice.More items...

What is the difference between chief justice and Attorney General?

In layman terms, Chief Justice is a Judge and Attorney General is a Lawyer, both have distinct roles to play. The Attorney General of India is the highest law officer of the country and he/she is the chief legal advisor to the GoI. He is responsible to assist the government in all its legal matters.

What is the job of the Attorney General quizlet?

What is the role of the Attorney General? Head of the Department of Justice, top law enforcement officer and lawyer for the United States, defends the US and the Constitution in court cases.

What does the Colorado Attorney General do?

The Attorney General has primary authority for enforcement of consumer protection and antitrust laws, prosecution of criminal appeals and some complex white-collar crimes, the Statewide Grand Jury, training and certification of peace officers, and most natural resource and environmental matters.

Who appoints the attorney general?

the PresidentAttorney General is appointed by the President on the advice of the government. There are the following qualifications: He should be an Indian Citizen. He must have either completed 5 years in High Court of any Indian state as a judge or 10 years in High Court as an advocate.

What is Attorney General Paxton's job?

Attorney General Paxton is focused on protecting Texans and upholding Texas laws and the Constitution. Fighting federal overreach, he filed 27 lawsuits against the Obama administration during a two-year stretch, of which six were heard in the U.S. Supreme Court. He's obtained an injunction or other winning ruling in more than 75 percent of the cases he's brought against the federal government.

How many employees does Attorney General Paxton have?

He was re-elected to a second term in 2018. As the state’s top law enforcement officer, Attorney General Paxton leads more than 4,000 employees in 38 divisions and 117 offices around Texas.

What district is Attorney General Paxton in?

First elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 2002, Attorney General Paxton represented House District 70 for 10 years, one of the fastest-growing regions in the state. In 2012, he was elected to the Texas state Senate, representing Senate District 8 in Collin and Dallas counties.

Where did Attorney General Paxton go to law school?

Attorney General Paxton graduated from Baylor University, where he served as student body president, earning a B.A. in psychology and an M.B.A. After receiving a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, he worked as an attorney at Strasburger & Price, LLP, in-house counsel for J.C. Penney Company, and headed up his own law firm for 14 years in McKinney.

What is the Kush and Spice law in Texas?

His office has filed more than a dozen lawsuits to block the sale of synthetic cannabinoids (known as Kush and Spice) in Texas. The agency’s website provides Texans with the information and resources they need to become fully informed about the dangers of synthetic drugs and the opioid painkiller abuse crisis.

Who is the attorney general of Texas?

The Texas attorney general is the chief legal officer of the U.S. state of Texas. The current officeholder, Republican Ken Paxton, has served in the position since January 5, 2015.

What is the role of the Attorney General?

The attorney general is charged by the state constitution to represent the state in civil litigation and approve public bond issues. There are nearly 2,000 references to the Office of the Attorney General in state laws.

How long is the term of the Texas Attorney General?

The attorney general is elected to a four-year term. In 2013, former Attorney General Greg Abbott announced he would not seek reelection and would run for governor. In November 2014, he was elected as the governor of Texas. Ken Paxton defeated former House Representative Dan Branch in the Republican primary by a 26% margin ...

What building houses the Attorney General's office?

The William P. Clements State Office Building houses the Attorney General offices. The Office of the Attorney General was first established by executive ordinance of the Republic of Texas government in 1836.

What is the law enforcement division in Texas?

In addition, the Law Enforcement Division is the state of Texas liaison to Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The office is also charged with proceedings to secure child support through its Child Support Division.

Does the Texas Constitution give the Attorney General powers?

The Texas Constitution gives the attorney general no general law-enforcement powers; instead it limits the attorney general's authority in criminal cases to that dictated by statute. The Texas Legislature has not given the attorney general broad law-enforcement authority, but permits the attorney general to act in criminal cases "at ...

What is the role of the Attorney General of Texas?

The Texas Attorney General is charged the Texas constitution to defend the laws and the writings within the constitution. Additionally, the Attorney General Texas must represent the state in litigation and approve bond issues present in the public.

What is the Texas Attorney General?

What is the Attorney General Texas? The Texas Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the state of Texas. The Office of the Attorney General Texas was first established through executive ordinance of the state’s government in 1836. Under the state’s constitution, in 1845, the Texas Attorney General was appointed by the governor; however, ...

What is the Attorney General's office in Texas?

In addition to these roles, the Office of the Attorney General Texas will also act as a law enforcement agency and as such, will employ a staff of sworn peace officers, who investigate special classes of offenses, pursuit fugitives and conduct investigations at the requests of local prosecutors. The office is also formally responsible for overseeing proceedings to secure child support and investigations revolving around Medicaid Fraud.

How to contact the TX Attorney General?

The Consumer Protection hotline of the TX Attorney General Office may be reached via telephone at 800-621-0508. Furthermore, the Child Support State Office may be reached via phone at 512-460-6000.

What does an elected official do in Texas?

To fulfill these various responsibilities, the elected official will serve as legal counsel to all coordinating boards and agencies of the Texas state government, issue legal opinions when requested by the governor, head various state agencies and other officials as provided by statute and sit as the ex-officio member of state committees and commissions.

What is the Attorney General's Child Support Division?

The Attorney General Child Support division is one of the most comprehensive government departments in the state. The Attorney General Child Support division oversees all litigation issues connected to child support matters, such as custody and payment issues. If an individual is seeking child support payments or is looking to initiate legal action against a defaulted party, the Attorney General Child Support division will handle all inquiries and general matters concerning the child support issue.

What is the Attorney General of Texas?

14 Footnotes. The Attorney General of Texas is the chief lawyer and legal officer for the state of Texas. According to the Texas Constitution, the attorney general defends the laws and the constitution of the state of Texas, represents the state in litigation, and approves public bond issues.

What is the Texas Statutes of the Attorney General?

See statutes: Texas Statutes Title 6, Chapter 659. The attorney general, along with the rest of Texas' executive officers, is entitled by Article 4, Section 23 of the Texas Constitution to receive an annual salary, pursuant to Title 6, Section 659.011 of the Texas Statutes.

How much does the Attorney General make in 2020?

In 2020, the attorney general received a salary of $153,750 according to the Council of State Governments.

When did Justin Nelson advance to the Texas primary?

Justin Nelson advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 6, 2018.

Who won the Texas Attorney General election?

Incumbent Ken Paxton defeated Justin Nelson and Michael Ray Harris in the general election for Attorney General of Texas on November 6, 2018.

Who won the 2010 Texas election?

To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of Texas Attorney General, Click to expand the section. On November 2, 2010, Greg Abbott won re-election to the office of Texas Attorney General. He defeated Barbara Ann Radnofsky (D) and Jon Roland (L) in the general election.

Is Texas a triplex state?

Texas has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

What is the Attorney General of Texas?

The Attorney General is the constitutional, statewide elected official who acts as the attorney for the State of Texas. The Attorney General: 1 enforces state consumer protection laws; 2 collects court-ordered child support; and 3 administers the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund.

Who maintains the oversight of state agencies in Texas?

Many agencies have ombudsmen or complaint resolution procedures available to Texans. Ultimate oversight of state agencies is maintained by the Texas Legislature, which establishes agency mandates and approves agency budgets.

How to contact the Texas State Law Library?

The Library, which houses all state and federal codes and statutes, can be reached at (512) 463-1722 or on the Web at www.sll.state.tx.us. I’m having trouble with my utility.

What to do if you disagree with Texas appraisal?

If you disagree with the tax rate, make your views known to the appropriate taxing authority (city, county, school district or other). If you want to complain about the actions of an appraiser, contact the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board at (512) 465-3950 or on the Web at www.talcb.state.tx.us.

How to contact Texas Open Meetings?

For information about the Texas Public Information Act or the Texas Open Meetings Act, you may wish to call our open government hotline at (512) 478-OPEN (6736) or toll-free at (877) OPEN TEX (673-6839). In addition, our open government publications are available on our Web site at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov or upon request by calling (512) ...

How to contact the Attorney General for child support?

For information about child support services, call the Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Division at (800) 252-8014 or consult your phone directory for the number to your local office. Information is also available on the Office of the Attorney General Web site at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.

What is the state bar of Texas?

The State Bar of Texas is the agency with authority to regulate attorneys in Texas. If you have a complaint about the actions of an attorney, contact the State Bar’s Grievance Committee at (800) 932-1900. I have a complaint against a private business.

What does the Attorney General do in Texas?

To fulfill these responsibilities, the Office of the Attorney General serves as legal counsel to all boards and agencies of state government, issues legal opinions when requested by the Governor, heads of state agencies and other officials ...

How many references to the Attorney General are there in Texas?

Texas statutes contain nearly 2000 references to the Attorney General. In addition to its constitutionally prescribed duties, the Office of the Attorney General files civil suits upon referral by other state agencies.

Who protects the rights of all citizens of Texas?

Although the Attorney General is prohibited from offering legal advice or representing private individuals, he serves and protects the rights of all citizens of Texas through the activities of the various divisions of the agencies.

Who has jurisdiction to prosecute a violation of the law?

In some circumstances, the Attorney General has original jurisdiction to prosecute violations of the law, but in most cases, criminal prosecutions by the Attorney General are initiated only upon the request of a local prosecutor.

Overview

History

Duties and responsibilities

Political prominence

Notes

External links