what does the attorney general of alabama do?

by Mrs. Paula Heathcote V 10 min read

The Attorney General represents the state in all criminal actions in the appellate courts of the State of Alabama and in habeas corpus proceedings in the federal courts. He has the authority to superintend and direct the prosecution of any state criminal case.

What is the primary duty of the Alabama Attorney General?

The Attorney General is a constitutional officer whose duties and powers are prescribed in Title 36, Chapter 15, of the Code of Alabama (1975). As the state's attorney, he provides legal representation for the state of Alabama, its officers, departments, and agencies.

Who was the first Attorney General of Alabama?

Mar 24, 2022 · Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall flew to Washington, D.C., Thursday to testify against confirmation of federal judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to …

Who is the Chief Lawyer of the state of Alabama?

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

Can I get legal advice from the Alabama Attorney General's Office?

Steve Marshall is an American lawyer serving as the 48th attorney general of Alabama, having been appointed in February 2017 by Governor Robert J. Bentley to fill the vacancy created by previous attorney general Luther Strange's appointment to the United States Senate. He was elected to a full term in 2018, and is running for re-election in 2022. He previously served as …

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What is the role of the Attorney General in Alabama?

The Attorney General of Alabama is an elected constitutional officer in the Alabama state government. The attorney general serves as the state's chief law officer and chief law enforcement officer. He may also initiate both civil and criminal court action to protect the state's interests or to enforce state law.

What power does the Attorney General have?

The NSW Attorney General is the legal advisor to the Government of NSW. The Attorney General is responsible for representing the State and may act on its behalf in all legal proceedings in which the State is a party. preserves civil liberties.

What is the purpose of the Attorney General's position in power?

The Attorney General's responsibilities include safeguarding Californians from harm and promoting community safety, preserving California's spectacular natural resources, enforcing civil rights laws, and helping victims of identity theft, mortgage-related fraud, illegal business practices, and other consumer crimes.

What does a local 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.

What is the difference between Attorney General and Governor General?

The attorney-general is usually a member of the Federal Cabinet, but need not be. Under the Constitution, they are appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister, and serve at the Governor-General's pleasure.

Who can be Attorney General?

They must be a person qualified to be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court. Hence, they must have been a judge of some high court for five years or an advocate of some high court for ten years, or an eminent jurist in the opinion of the President. The 15th and current Attorney General is K. K. Venugopal.

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.Feb 20, 2020

What is the role of an attorney?

As an attorney, your legal responsibilities include: Acting in the donor's best interests and taking reasonable care when making decisions on their behalf. Acting in accordance with the terms of the LPA (see below). Helping the donor to make their own decisions where possible, rather than simply taking control.

What is the primary 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.

Who is the head of the Department of Justice 2020?

Attorney General GarlandMeet the Attorney General As the nation's chief law enforcement officer, Attorney General Garland leads the Justice Department's 115,000 employees, who work across the United States and in more than 50 countries worldwide.

What does the Attorney General do in Alabama?

The Attorney General represents the state in all criminal actions in the appellate courts of the State of Alabama and in habeas corpus proceedings in the federal courts.

What is the Constitutional basis for the Attorney General?

Article V, Section 112, established the position of the Attorney General. Article V, Section 116, states the Attorney General shall be elected every four years. Amendment 282 permits him/her to succeed himself/herself for one additional term in office.

What amendment allows the Attorney General to succeed himself?

Amendment 282 permits him/her to succeed himself/herself for one additional term in office. Article V, Section 137, says the Attorney General's duties shall be prescribed by law. Article V, Section 132, states that the Attorney General shall have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years, an Alabama resident for ...

How many employees does the Attorney General have?

Today, the Attorney General's staff includes more than 170 employees with diversified skills and training in law, public administration, investigation, consumer affairs, utility regulation, paralegal studies, and other disciplines.

How much did the Attorney General of Mississippi make in 1818?

In 1818, the territory was divided into three sections, Attorneys General were appointed for each section, and each received a salary of $450 per year.

When did Alabama allow clerical assistance?

Alabama's Attorney General was allowed no clerical assistance until 1896 when the Attorney General was authorized to hire a clerk. Eleven years later, the first Assistant Attorney General was provided for with a salary of $1,500 per year. In 1911, another Assistant Attorney General was employed. In 1915, the Attorney General was given discretionary ...

When was the Attorney General made an executive officer?

The Office was classified under the judicial branch until 1868 when the Attorney General was made an executive officer of the state. Also, in that year, the term of office was reduced from four years to two years. However, in 1901 the term was changed back to four years, and the term still remains at four years.

What is the job of the Attorney General of Alabama?

He is called upon as the chief defender of the laws of Alabama, the lawyer for state officials and represents the state in all matters brought before a court of law or tribunal. The attorney general (AG) also provides advisory opinions to local and state governments when questions arise about the constitutionality of proposed laws and regulations. It is the task of the AG to represent the state when questions arise concerning various criminal sentences including the death penalty.

Where is the Attorney General of Alabama located?

The office of the attorney general is located at the state capitol in Montgomery, Alabama.

What does the Attorney General do?

The attorney general (AG) also provides advisory opinions to local and state governments when questions arise about the constitutionality of proposed laws and regulations. It is the task of the AG to represent the state when questions arise concerning various criminal sentences including the death penalty. From time to time the AG may begin legal ...

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 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.

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.

Who appointed Marshall as Attorney General of Alabama?

Attorney General of Alabama. Marshall was appointed Attorney General of Alabama by Governor Robert J. Bentley in February 2017, to fill the vacancy caused by Luther Strange 's appointment to the United States Senate. He was elected to a full term in 2018, defeating former attorney general Troy King in a July run-off election.

What party is Marshall County District Attorney?

In 2011, after serving for ten years as Marshall County district attorney, Marshall officially changed his political party affiliation from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.

Where did Marshall practice law?

Marshall practiced law in Birmingham and Montgomery in the firm of Maynard Cooper and Gale P.C. and then moved to Guntersville where he started the firm of McLaughlin & Marshall. He was district representative for Alabama and Georgia in the American Bar Association. In addition to private practice, he served as a legal analyst for the Alabama House of Representatives, as prosecutor for the Arab and Albertville municipal courts and as municipal attorney for Arab.

Who is the Rule of Law Defense Fund?

Rule of Law Defense Fund. Marshall leads the Rule of Law Defense Fund, a nonprofit under the Republican Attorneys General Association. The organization organized pro-Trump protests on January 6, 2021, which sought to overturn the 2020 election, which Trump lost to Joe Biden. Trump and his allies made false and baseless claims of fraud.

Who was the first attorney general of Alabama?

When Alabama gained statehood the following year, the Office of the Attorney General was incorporated into the state’s original constitution. The Alabama General Assembly elected Mr. Henry Hitchcock as the state’s first Attorney General. Mr. Hitchcock, a respected elder statesman and state constitutional convention attendee on behalf of Washington County, served concurrently as the first Secretary of State, and would go on to become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama.

What is the office of the Attorney General?

The mandated function of the Office of the Attorney General is to provide legal advice and legal representation for the State, its officers, and its citizenry. It is one of the agencies responsible for performing the Public Advocacy and Policy and Statute Development functions of Alabama government.

Who was the Alabama governor who won the 2018 election?

Marshall was appointed to the office in 2017 by then-Gov. Robert Bentley. He won the office in the 2018 election after defeating former Attorney General Troy King in the GOP runoff and Joe Siegelman, the son of former Gov. Don Siegelman in the general election. Under his direction, Alabama joined lawsuits by Republican-led states in suing ...

Who is running for second term in Alabama?

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has announced he is running for a second term as the state’s top law enforcement officer. By Associated Press.

What issues did Alabama sue Biden over?

Under his direction, Alabama joined lawsuits by Republican-led states in suing the Biden administration over several issues, including a suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land and water and to reschedule canceled sales of leases in the Gulf of Mexico.

Is Alabama facing a lawsuit?

Alabama faces an ongoing lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice over prison conditions. In his brief announcement, Marshall did not give specifics but appeared to criticize sentencing reforms.

What is the job of the Attorney General of Alabama?

The attorney general serves as the state's chief law officer and chief law enforcement officer. He may also initiate both civil and criminal court action to protect the state's interests or to enforce state law.

When does Alabama elect its attorney general?

Per Section 114 of the state constitution, Alabama elects its attorneys general during federal midterm election years (e.g. 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030). Section 116 sets the attorney general's inauguration for the first Monday after the second Tuesday in the January following an election.

How long is the Alabama governor's term?

Alabama Constitution, Amendment 282: The governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education, and commissioner of agriculture and industries, shall hold their respective offices for the term of four years from the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January next ...

How long do you have to be a citizen to be an attorney general in Alabama?

Candidates for the office must have been a citizen of the United States for seven years, a resident of Alabama for five years, and at least 25 years of age.

How old do you have to be to be an attorney general?

No person shall be eligible to the office of attorney-general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education, or commissioner of agriculture and industries unless he shall have been a citizen of the United States at least seven years, and shall have resided in this state at least five years next preceding his election, and shall be at least twenty-five years old when elected.

Who won the Alabama primary?

Incumbent Steve Marshall and Troy King advanced to a runoff. They defeated Alice Martin and Chess Bedsole in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Alabama on June 5, 2018.

Who is elected by the qualified electors of Alabama?

Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 114. The governor, lieutenant governor, attorney-general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education, and commissioner of agriculture and industries shall be elected by the qualified electors of the state at the same time and places appointed for the election ...

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Current Officeholder

The attorney general of Alabama is an elected, constitutional officer of the State of Alabama. The office of the attorney general is located at the state capitol in Montgomery, Alabama. Henry Hitchcock was elected Alabama's first attorney general in 1819.

Authority

Qualifications

Elections

Vacancies

Duties

Divisions

  • Qualifications for the office of attorney general are described in Article V, Section 132 of the state constitution. Candidates for the office must have been a citizen of the United States for seven years, a resident of Alabama for five years, and at least 25 years of age. Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 132
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Recent News

  • Per Section 114 of the state constitution, Alabama elects its attorneys general during federal midterm election years (e.g. 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030). Section 116sets the attorney general's inauguration for the first Monday after the second Tuesday in the January following an election. Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 114 Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 116
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Contact Info

  • Article V, Section 136 of the Alabama Constitutionrequires the governor to appoint a replacement if the office of attorney general becomes vacant or if the incumbent "shall become of unsound mind." The replacement serves until the next scheduled election. Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 136'
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