The Nebraska Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer and lawyer for the U.S. state of Nebraska.
The Attorney General’s Office is the largest “law firm” in Nebraska outside of Omaha. Major Duties Uphold and defend the Constitution and laws of the State of Nebraska;
As of January 11, 2021, the Office of the Attorney General of Nebraska contains the following divisions: Civil Litigation Bureau: this department works on civil rights claims, inmate litigation, worker's compensation, tort claim lawsuits, employment discrimination and equal opportunity commission.
As established by Article IV, Section 11 of the Nebraska Constitution, in the event of a vacancy in the office of attorney general, the governor fills the office by appointment. The appointee serves until a successor is elected and qualified.
Some of the general duties of the office of the attorney general include: 1 Uphold and defend the Constitution and laws of the State of Nebraska; 2 Achieve a higher level of public safety and security by promoting vigorous prosecution of murderers, drug dealers, child abusers and other criminals; 3 Promote stronger law enforcement and reform in criminal procedure and criminal law; 4 Provide skilled assistance to local prosecutors in highly technical or complex cases involving murder, illegal drugs and the prosecution of child sexual abuse; 5 Prevent and prosecute consumer fraud and deceptive trade practices, and protect Nebraskans from fraudulent business activities and scams through educational outreach; 6 Uphold and protect the civil rights of all Nebraskans; 7 Defend Nebraska's interests in disputes with other states over irrigation water and stream flows; 8 Protect the public health and safety of Nebraskans by vigorously pursuing disciplinary actions against health care professionals who endanger the public by violations of health regulations or drug laws; 9 Provide professional legal representation in all civil proceedings on behalf of the state; 10 Reduce the time and resources devoted by the state to defending claims by inmates of correctional facilities.
The first step in filing a complaint is to file with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. It is up to the NADC to determine probable cause of a complaint before the attorney general can move on with prosecution the case. The NADC handles all civil law violations.
The attorney general will then write a ballot question that summarizes the initiative in 100 words or less.
Thus the attorney general does not receive a copy of the ballot until the signatures are turned into the state four months prior to the election.
Legal Services Bureau: provides legal advice to over 60 state agencies, boards, commissions, departments and offices. The department also is in charge of antitrust, probate, and escheat, and other specialized matters including election law and constitutional litigation.
The Nebraska Department of Justice/Office of the Attorney General operates, in many respects, as the “State’s law firm.”. The office is headed by the Nebraska Attorney General, an independently-elected constitutional officer, and is a diverse organization of highly specialized attorneys and support staff. The Attorney General’s Office is the ...
The Civil Litigation Bureau defends all civil lawsuits filed against the State, its agencies, and State officials and employees. Currently the Civil Litigation Bureau is comprised of twelve assistant attorneys general including the Civil Litigation Bureau Chief who also serves as Nebraska’s Solicitor General.
The Consumer Protection Division (Bureau) enforces state and federal laws that safeguard against deceptive, fraudulent, and unfair business practices. The Division also has enforcement powers over antitrust and monopolistic activities and is responsible for oversight of charitable institutions and assets, including nonprofit corporations, charitable trusts and endowment funds. Furthermore, the Division oversees and enforces compliance with the civil and criminal statutes, regulations, and settlement terms governing the use, manufacture, and sale of tobacco/nicotine products within the State. In addition to enforcement powers, the Bureau provides education outreach on topics that include identity theft, Internet safety, and general fraud, with the goal of teaching consumers how to protect themselves. The Division also offers a mediation service to constructively resolve differences and settle disputes Nebraska consumers may have with a business through the Consumer Protection Division Mediation Center.
Peterson’s office has supported strengthened legislation and enforcement in the areas of human trafficking, prosecution of child sexual assault and abuse, and consumer protection laws to safeguard all Nebraskans.
The Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources (AENR) Bureau of the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office supervises the litigation support and enforcement of State statutes and regulations for Nebraska state agencies and boards representing the interests of agriculture, the environment and natural resources.