what does the california attorney general do

by Jimmy McClure 8 min read

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.

Who does the California attorney general report to?

the California Department of JusticeThe California attorney general carries out the responsibilities of the office through the California Department of Justice. The department employs over 1,100 attorneys and 3,700 non-attorney employees.

How much does the attorney general of California make?

State executive salariesOffice and current officialSalaryGovernor of California Gavin Newsom$209,747Lieutenant Governor of California Eleni KounalakisAttorney General of California Rob BontaCalifornia Secretary of State Shirley Weber7 more rows

How powerful is the attorney general?

The Attorney General of the United States – appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate – heads the DOJ with its more than 100,000 attorneys, special agents, and other staff. It represents the United States in federal criminal and civil litigation, and provides legal advice to the President and Cabinet.

What does a state Attorney General do?

They represent the State in all lawsuits and transactions for and against the State. They work and function in the same way as ordinary attorneys.

How much does a CA governor make?

Governor of CaliforniaFormationDecember 20, 1849DeputyLieutenant Governor of CaliforniaSalaryUS$210,000 (2020)WebsiteOfficial website15 more rows

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

Attorney General California Toll-Free Complaint Number: 1-800-952-5225. Submitting a complaint by Mail (Download, fill out, and mail this form): P.O Box 944255, Sacramento 94244. Submitting a complaint by FAX (Download, file out, and fax this form): (916) 323-5341.

Is the attorney general higher than the President?

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.

What does the US Attorney General investigate?

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.

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 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.

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 much does the attorney general of the United States make?

Attorney General is a Level I position in the Executive Schedule, thus earning a salary of US$221,400, as of January 2021.

Who determines the salary of Attorney General?

the PresidentThe remuneration of the Attorney General of India is not fixed by the Constitution. He receives such remuneration as the President may determine.

Who is the deputy attorney general of California?

Rosailda Perez - Deputy Attorney General - California Department of Justice | LinkedIn.

What is a special agent for the DOJ?

Special Agents conduct a wide variety of complex criminal investigations, enforce state gambling and firearm laws and regulations, work in forensic sciences, and train and educate other law enforcement personnel on the latest law enforcement techniques and technologies.

What are the duties of an attorney general?

According to the state Constitution, the Code of Civil Procedure, and the Government Code, the attorney general: 1 As the state's chief law officer, ensures that the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced. 2 Heads the Department of Justice, which is responsible for providing state legal services and support for local law enforcement. 3 Acts as the chief counsel in state litigation. 4 Oversees law enforcement agencies, including district attorneys and sheriffs.

Where is the California Attorney General's office?

The California attorney general's main office in Sacramento is housed in this building. According to the state Constitution, the Code of Civil Procedure, and the Government Code, the attorney general: As the state's chief law officer, ensures that the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced.

How long is the term of the California Attorney General?

The California attorney general is elected to a four-year term, with a maximum of two terms. The election is held at the same statewide election as the governor, lieutenant governor, controller, secretary of state, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, and insurance commissioner .

What is the Department of Justice responsible for?

Heads the Department of Justice, which is responsible for providing state legal services and support for local law enforcement.

Who will be the next attorney general in 2021?

On March 24, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he would be appointing Rob Bonta as attorney general to succeed Xavier Becerra, who resigned the position to become Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden.

When did Warren become Attorney General?

Warren went on to become attorney general himself in 1938, reorganizing's the state's law enforcement into districts.

When was the office of attorney general created?

Although the office of attorney general dates to the admission of California to the Union, the office in its modern form dates to Proposition 4 of 1934, sponsored by Alameda County District Attorney Earl Warren as one of four initiatives he sponsored to substantially reform law enforcement and the judiciary.

What is the role of the Attorney General of California?

The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of the state of California, as set forth in the state Constitution. Article V vests the Attorney General with broad powers and carries out these duties through the Department of Justice.

What powers does the Attorney General have?

According to the state courts, the Attorney General, as the chief law officer of the state, has broad powers derived from the common law and, in the absence of any legislative restriction, has the power to file any civil action or proceeding directly involving the rights and interests of the state, or which he or she deems necessary for the enforcement of the laws of the state, the preservation of order, and the protection of public rights and interests. People ex rel. Harris v. Rizzo (2013) 214 Cal.App. 4 th 921

Which branch of government decides the charges?

Finally, the legislative branch of state government bears the sole responsibility and power to define criminal charges and to prescribe its punishment, and it is the executive branch of state government that decides which crime to charge and the judicial branch which imposes sentence with the legislative limits for the chosen crimes. Hence, the separation of powers doctrine mandates that a statute may not constitutionally require the consent of one branch of government for the proper exercise of another branch’s power, unless it is specifically provided for in the state Constitution. People v. Mikhail (1993) 13 Cal.App. 4 th 846, rehearing denied, review denied.

Who is responsible for prosecution of crimes?

In addition, under Article V, Section 13, the Attorney General and the district attorneys have exclusive responsibility for prosecution of crimes. No private citizen can initiate a misdemeanor complaint absent the district attorney’s approval, authority, or concurrence, nor may the district attorney’s power be controlled by the courts. People v. Shults (1978) 87 Cal.App. 3 rd 101

Can a district attorney enforce unfair competition?

As an example of this, a district attorney’s authority to enforce the unfair competition law is not limited to the county’s borders. In fact, a district attorney can allege violations occurring outside the county as well as within the county. The trial court did not err in denying a motion to strike allegations of violations outside the county. Nothing in the constitutional provisions concerning the role of the California Attorney General and district attorneys precludes the Legislature from allowing such enforcement. Abbott Laboratories v. Superior Court (2020) 9 Cal. 5 th 642

What is the California Department of Justice?

The California Constitution establishes the Attorney General as the state's chief law officer, responsible for ensuring that the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced.

What is the Department of Justice?

The Department of Justice is committed to fostering and maintaining an engaged and inclusive organizational culture that celebrates shared values and diversity, which are integral to excellence.

What is the Attorney General's Office?

The Attorney General's Office is committed to protecting the rights of all people. Recognizing that discrimination has no place in our society,The Attorney General's Office is fighting to protect transgender students and adults across the nation, and strictly enforcing the recently enacted California law that prohibits state-funded travel to states that discriminate against LGBTQ communities.

What is the Attorney General's Office's view on the economic security of working families?

The Attorney General's Office believes that the economic security of working families is crucial to the economic well-being of California and will fight to make sure that everyone in our state can benefit from economic growth and consumer protections.

How effective are law enforcement officers?

Law enforcement officers can only be effective if they are trusted by the communities they serve. Police agencies across the country now confront a crisis of confidence that not only complicates their dangerous work but also demands a meaningful response.

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

Overview

The attorney general of California is the state attorney general of the Government of California. The officer's duty is to ensure that "the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced" (Constitution of California, Article V, Section 13). The California attorney general carries out the responsibilities of the office through the California Department of Justice. The department employs over 1,…

Duties

According to the state Constitution, the Code of Civil Procedure, and the Government Code, the attorney general:
• As the state's chief law officer, ensures that the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced.
• Heads the Department of Justice, which is responsible for providing state legal services and support for local law enforce…

History

Although the office of attorney general dates to the admission of California to the Union, the office in its modern form dates to Proposition 4 of 1934, sponsored by Alameda County District Attorney Earl Warren as one of four initiatives he sponsored to substantially reform law enforcement and the judiciary. Previously, the attorney general lacked jurisdiction over matters in the jurisdiction of locally elected district attorneys and sheriffs. Warren went on to become attor…

Diversity

• Stanley Mosk was the first adherent of Judaism to hold the office.
• George Deukmejian was the first Armenian American to hold the office.
• Kamala Harris was the first woman, the first Asian American, and the first African American to hold the office.

List of attorneys general of California

Major other offices held
• Xavier Becerra (2017–2021) – 25th Secretary of Health and Human Services (2021–present)
• Jerry Brown (2007–2011) – 34th and 39th Governor of California (1975–1983; 2011–2019)
• Pat Brown (1951–1959) – 32nd Governor of California (1959–1967)

External links

• Official website
• California Attorney General articles at ABA Journal
• News and Commentary at FindLaw

What Does The Attorney General do?

  • The attorney general ensures the state’s laws are followed and defends challenges to state law in court. The elected official oversees the California Department of Justice, which has over 4,500 employees and is one of the largest agencies in the state. The California Constitution outlines the state attorney general’s responsibilities as: 1. Ensurin...
See more on capradio.org

How National Politics Influence The job, and Vice-Versa

  • An attorney general’s agenda is largely influenced by who occupies the White House, especially in a large state like California. If the attorney general disagrees with policy decisions made by a president, particularly of a different political party, they may use state resources to block or reverse them. Attorneys general in larger states will often lead these types of lawsuits, with smal…
See more on capradio.org

Criminal Justice and The Attorney General

  • Polls show California voters are growing increasingly concerned about crime, with 23% listing it as a top concern in arecent UC Berkeley survey. While the Legislature writes criminal laws and local prosecutors handle most criminal cases, an attorney general could place more emphasis on charging, prosecuting and seeking higher sentences for certain criminal cases. Levinson says th…
See more on capradio.org

This Year's Ballot

  • Bonta is seeking election for his first full term as attorney general since he was appointed to the post in early 2021. Previously, he served as a Democratic member of the state Assembly, representing Oakland and parts of the East Bay. His challengers include Republicans Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor, and Eric Early, a lawyer who advised the Recall Newsom …
See more on capradio.org