what does the arkansas attorney general do?

by Prof. Jamal Hettinger 5 min read

The Attorney General of Arkansas

Arkansas Attorney General

The Arkansas Attorney General is an executive position and constitutional officer within the Arkansas government. The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement, legal officer, and lawyer for Arkansas. The position is elected every four years, e.g. 2006 and 2010, at the same time as the Gov…

, 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.

Full Answer

How to become lawyer in Arkansas?

The Attorney General serves as Arkansas’s lawyer, chief law enforcement officer and chief consumer advocate. Whether it is fighting fraud or representing the State in a court of law, making sure we have common sense regulations to support businesses, holding criminals accountable or keeping our citizens safe, Arkansans deserve to have the top lawyers and …

Is verbal agreement legal in Arkansas?

Arkansas Attorney General is responsible for protecting Arkansas consumers from various types of scams, frauds, legislate new laws, and enforcing the state’s antitrust laws. Arkansas Attorney General office is located at 323 Center Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201, and Arkansas Attorney General Phone Number is 501-682-2007.

What is Arkansas Power of attorney?

Arkansas is holding an election for attorney general on November 8, 2022. The primary is scheduled for May 24, 2022, and a primary runoff is scheduled for June 21, 2022. The filing deadline is March 1, 2022. Contents.

Who is the current Attorney General?

While varying from one jurisdiction to the next due to statutory and constitutional mandates, the role of attorney general typically includes: Issuing formal opinions to state agencies. Acting as public advocates in areas such as child support enforcement, consumer protections, antitrust and utility regulation. Proposing legislation.

image

What is the role of the Arkansas attorney general?

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 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 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.

Who is the attorney general for the state of Arkansas?

Leslie Rutledge (Republican Party)Arkansas / Attorney generalLeslie Carol Rutledge is an American attorney and politician from the state of Arkansas. A Republican, she is the 56th attorney general of Arkansas, a position Rutledge has held since January 13, 2015. She is the first Republican and woman to hold the position. Wikipedia

What does the attorney general do?

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.

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

File a consumer complaint online, email [email protected] or call 800-482-8982.

Who reports to the US attorney general?

President of the United StatesUnited States Attorney GeneralMember ofCabinet National Security CouncilReports toPresident of the United StatesSeatRobert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building Washington, D.C.AppointerPresident of the United States with United States Senate advice and consent13 more rows

How does attorney general influence executive branch?

The Attorney General is the head of the DOJ and chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The Attorney General represents the United States in legal matters, advises the President and the heads of the executive departments of the government, and occasionally appears in person before the Supreme Court.

Is the FBI part of the Department of Justice?

Within the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI is responsible to the attorney general, and it reports its findings to U.S. Attorneys across the country. The FBI's intelligence activities are overseen by the Director of National Intelligence.

Who is the assistant attorney general in Arkansas?

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced today that she has named Sarah Page Tacker, of Conway, a longtime attorney in the Public Protection Department to be the Deputy Attorney General for the department.

What is the attorney general's office?

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

How do I contact the Arkansas attorney general's office?

You can email them to [email protected].

What is the requirement to be an elector in Arkansas?

The Arkansas Constitution requires 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.

How long is the attorney general term in Arkansas?

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 Arkansas increased the term length to its current level.

Does Ballotpedia curate or endorse Rutledge?

These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

What is the Constitution of Arkansas?

Constitution of Arkansas, Article 5, Section 9. No person hereafter convicted of embezzlement of public money, bribery, forgery or other infamous crime, shall be eligible to the General Assembly or capable of holding any office of trust or profit in this State.

What happens when the attorney general of Arkansas dies?

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.

What amendment sets the salary of state constitutional officers?

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.

What is the job of the Attorney General?

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.

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 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.

What is the role of a public advocate?

Issuing formal opinions to state agencies. Acting as public advocates in areas such as child support enforcement, consumer protections, antitrust and utility regulation. Proposing legislation. Enforcing federal and state environmental laws. Representing the state and state agencies before the state and federal courts.

image

Current Officeholder

  • The 56th and current attorney general is Leslie Rutledge, a Republican first elected in November 2014 and re-elected in November 2018. Rutledge succeeded Democrat Dustin McDaniel.
See more on ballotpedia.org

Authority

  • The office of attorney general is established by Article 6 of the Arkansas Constitution. Constitution of Arkansas, Amendment 63
See more on ballotpedia.org

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…
See more on ballotpedia.org

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…
See more on ballotpedia.org

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.
See more on ballotpedia.org

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 an…
See more on ballotpedia.org

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…
See more on ballotpedia.org

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.
See more on ballotpedia.org

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…
See more on ballotpedia.org

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.
See more on ballotpedia.org

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