what does the attorney general of wa state do

by Lorena Lang 4 min read

How do you contact the Attorney General of Washington?

Advises the Governor, members of the Legislature, other state officers, and county prosecutors on legal issues. Gives formal written attorney general’s opinions on constitutional or legal questions at the request of designated public officials. Represents the public interest in utility matters and energy facility siting.

How many attorneys are there in Washington State?

Today the Washington Attorney General’s Office stood up for Hanford workers at the United States Supreme Court. The Office is defending Washington’s bipartisan state law designed to make it easier... Read More... April 12, 2022 AG Ferguson: JUUL must pay Washington $22.5 million over its unlawful advertising practices

Who is the Attorney General for Washington State?

How much does an assistant attorney general make in Washington state? Attorney General of Washington State Salary FAQs. The average Attorney General of Washington State salary ranges from approximately $136,579 per year for an Assistant Attorney General to $136,579 per year for an Assistant Attorney General.

Should state attorney generals be elected or appointed?

Apr 05, 2015 · What does the Attorney General of Washington do? The Washington State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the state. Often referred to as the “People’s Lawyer”, the attorney general of Washington advocates on behalf of the state’s citizens. Furthermore, the Washington State Attorney General will work with members of the general assembly to push …

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What is the main purpose of the 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 is the Attorney General of Washington?

Image of What is the Attorney General of Washington?
Robert Watson Ferguson is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 18th attorney general of Washington. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2016 and 2020. Prior to serving as Attorney General, Ferguson was a member of the King County Council.
Wikipedia

How many Attorney generals are there in Washington State?

List of attorneys general of Washington
#Attorney GeneralTerm of office
15Ken Eikenberry1993
16Christine Gregoire2005
17Rob McKenna2013
18Bob Fergusonpresent
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How much does the Washington state Attorney General make?

State executive salaries
Office and current officialSalary
Attorney General of Washington Bob Ferguson$156,270,
Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs
Washington Commissioner of Insurance Mike Kreidler$121,628
Washington State Auditor Pat McCarthy$120,459
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How much does an assistant attorney general make in Washington state?

The typical Attorney General of Washington State Assistant Attorney General salary is $98,111 per year. Assistant Attorney General salaries at Attorney General of Washington State can range from $69,396 - $136,335 per year.

How do I file a complaint against a business in Washington State?

If you have a complaint about a business, you can contact the Better Business Bureau at 206-431-2222 and also the Consumer Protection division of the Washington State Attorney General's Office at 206-464-6684 or 1-800-551-4636 .Nov 25, 2020

Who is on the Washington State Supreme Court?

Washington Supreme Court Justices
CHIEF JUSTICE STEVEN C. GONZÁLEZASSOCIATE CHIEF JUSTICE CHARLES W. JOHNSONJUSTICE BARBARA A. MADSEN
JUSTICE SUSAN OWENSJUSTICE DEBRA L. STEPHENSJUSTICE SHERYL GORDON McCLOUD
JUSTICE MARY I. YUJUSTICE RAQUEL MONTOYA-LEWISJUSTICE G. HELEN WHITENER

Who is the current Washington State Treasurer?

Mike Pellicciotti
Mike Pellicciotti (Pelly-chotty) was elected Washington's 24th State Treasurer in 2020.

Who was the first Attorney General of the United States?

Edmund Jennings Randolph
The Judiciary Act of 1789 establishes the Office of the Attorney General. The Judiciary Act of 1789 established the Office of the Attorney General. On September 26, 1789, Edmund Jennings Randolph was appointed the first Attorney General of the United States by President George Washington.

How much does the governor of Washington state get paid?

Executive Branch
PositionCurrent SalarySalary Effective 7/1/2022
Governor187,353190,632
Lieutenant Governor117,300119,353
Secretary of State134,640136,996
Treasurer153,615156,303
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What is the job of the Attorney General of Washington?

The Attorney General of Washington is the chief legal officer of the U.S. state of Washington and head of the Washington State Office of the Attorney General. The Attorney General represents clients of the state and defends the public interest in accordance to state law. The office of the attorney general is an executive office elected by ...

What is the Washington State Constitution?

Washington State Constitution. Formation. 1887. The Attorney General of Washington is the chief legal officer of the U.S. state of Washington and head of the Washington State Office of the Attorney General. The Attorney General represents clients of the state and defends the public interest in accordance to state law.

What are the qualifications for a state office?

Additionally, Article 3, Section 25 of the state constitution establishes the qualifications of state offices in general: 1 a citizen of the United States 2 a qualified elector in Washington

Who is the executive department?

The executive department shall consist of a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, and a commissioner of public lands, who shall be severally chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the same time and place of voting as for the members of the legislature.

How often are the governors elected in Washington?

In Washington, the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, and commissioner of public lands are elected every four years. Elections are held in November and winners assume office the following January, serving until their successors are elected and qualified.

What is needed to start a business in Washington State?

Need information on starting a business in Washington State? Depending on the nature of your business and profession, licenses issued by a variety of state, county or city agencies may be required.

What is the role of the Attorney General of Washington?

The primary role of the Attorney General's Office is to provide legal representation to the State of Washington, its agencies, and state officials acting in their official capacities . The office is not authorized to advise or represent private citizens on personal legal matters.

How to contact the Washington State Bar?

You may also contact the Bar by calling 1-800-945-WSBA (9722). Copies of Washington laws (RCW) and rules (WAC) can be obtained at ...

Who provides written opinions on constitutional issues?

The Attorney General's Office provides formal written opinions about constitutional or legal questions when requested by statewide elected officials, members of the Legislature, appointed heads of state agencies, and county prosecuting attorneys.

What is an official opinion?

An official opinion expresses the Attorney General's position on a point of law. Opinions are considered persuasive but not binding by the courts.

Does the AGO have criminal jurisdiction?

The AGO has no original criminal jurisdiction. Specifically, the Attorney General’s Office may only exercise criminal jurisdiction upon the written request of an elected county prosecutor, the governor, or a majority of the committee charged with the oversight of the organized crime intelligence unit.

What is the benefit of Social Security Disability?

Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to you and certain members of your family if (1) you or they have a disability and meet medical criteria (2) you have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes.

How to report child abuse in Washington State?

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) receives and investigates reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. There are several ways to report abuse: 1 DSHS’s ENDHARM hotline Washington State has a toll-free, 24 hour, 7 day-a-week hotline that will connect you directly to the appropriate local office to report suspected child abuse or neglect. Call 1-866-ENDHARM (1-866-363-4276), 2 During the Day - Contact your local CPS office. You can find the “local office number” on the CPS website . 3 Nights & Weekends - call 1-800-562-5624 4 TTY Callers - call 1-800-624-6186 to place a direct TTY call.

What is the role of the Attorney General of Washington?

The primary role of the Attorney General's Office is to provide legal representation to the State of Washington, its agencies, and state officials acting in their official capacities. The office is not authorized to advise or represent private citizens on personal legal matters. If you need help with a personal legal matter-such as filing ...

What is an official opinion?

An official opinion expresses the Attorney General’s position on a point of law. Opinions are considered persuasive but not binding by the courts. To review recent opinions issued by the office visit www.atg.wa.gov/ago-opinions. [ Back to Top]

Does the AGO have criminal jurisdiction?

The AGO has no original criminal jurisdiction. Specifically, the Attorney General’s Office may only exercise criminal jurisdiction upon the written request of an elected county prosecutor, the governor, or a majority of the committee charged with the oversight of the organized crime intelligence unit. Absent such a written request, the county ...

What is the FOIA?

The federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) governs the disclosure of documents held by U.S. government agencies. A good source of information about FOIA is the National Freedom of Information Center, www.nfoic.org/foi-center. [ Back to Top] I need a copy of a legal document.

How to replace a lost Social Security card?

To replace a lost Social Security card, for example, you should contact the Social Security Administration by visiting one of their local offices or their website. For a lost passport, contact the United States Department of State Passport Services Division at travel.state.gov/passport/lost/us/us_848.html.

What is the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division?

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division enforces the state’s Consumer Protection Act and may take legal action against businesses that engage in unfair or deceptive practices. Remedies sought may include consumer refunds and civil penalties.

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.

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Authority

The Attorney General of Washington is the chief legal officer of the U.S. state of Washingtonand head of the Washington State Office of the Attorney General. The Attorney General represents clients of the state and defends the public interest in accordance to state law. The office of the attorney general is an executive office elected by the citizens of Washington, and the officeholder se…

Qualifications

Elections

Vacancies

Duties

  • Under state law, the attorney general must be a qualified practitioner of the state supreme court. Additionally, Article 3, Section 25 of the state constitutionestablishes the qualifications of state offices in general: 1. a citizen of the United States 2. a qualified elector in Washington
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Historical Officeholders

  • In Washington, the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, and commissioner of public landsare elected every four years. Elections are held in November and winners assume office the following January, serving until their successors are elected and qualified.
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Recent News

  • In the event of a vacancy in this office, the governorshall fill the vacancy by appointment. The term of the appointee expires when a successor has been elected and qualified.
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