what does the state attorney general do, ks

by Camryn Pacocha II 9 min read

The Attorney General's Office provides legal services to state agencies and boards, promotes open and accountable government, issues Attorney General's Opinions, protects consumers from fraud, assists the victims of crime and defends the state in civil proceedings.

What does a state’s Attorney General do?

A state’s attorney general is responsible for enforcing the law in the state where he or she was elected. The attorney general is the chief legal representative for the state and serves as general counsel for most of the state’s government agencies.

Who is the Attorney General of Kansas now?

AG Derek Schmidt serves as president of National AG Association Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is currently serving as president of the National Association of Attorneys General. As president, Schmidt leads the national organization of 56 state and territorial attorneys general for the 2017-2018 year.

How many states have an elected Attorney General?

43 states have an elected attorney general. Elected attorneys general serve a four-year term, except in Vermont, where the term is two years. Seven states do not elect an attorney general.

What are the different types of Attorney General Office services?

These core services range from forensic sciences to telecommunications. The specific services provided by an attorney general’s office vary by state. Some states' attorney general offices also include peace officers charged with pursuing special types of cases for the state. Is Amazon actually giving you the best price?

image

What is the most important duty of state attorney general?

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.

Who is the state attorney general for Kansas?

Derek Schmidt (Republican Party)Kansas / Attorney generalDerek Larkin Schmidt is an American lawyer and politician who has been the Kansas Attorney General since 2011. Wikipedia

How much does the attorney general of Kansas make?

State executive salariesOffice and current officialSalaryAttorney General of Kansas Derek Schmidt$98,901Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab$88.66/dayChief of Staff to the Governor of Kansas Will LawrenceKansas Treasurer Lynn Rogers3 more rows

Is the Kansas attorney general elected or appointed?

The attorney general is one of four statewide, elected constitutional officers in the executive branch of state government, along with the governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state.

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

It's one way to avoid pesky calls from telemarketers.Consumer Protection Hotline: 1-800-432-2310. (785) 296-3751. Fax: (785) 291-3699. File a complaint online.Attorney General Consumer Protection Division.120 SW 10th Ave., 2nd Floor. Topeka, KS 66612. (785) 296-2215. 1-888-428-8436. Fax: (785) 296-6296.

How do I contact the attorney general of Kansas?

Please click here to view our Open Records Request Policy, or call (785) 296-2215.

How many state employees are there in Kansas?

The number of total active employees decreased from 18,423 in 2015 to 17,823 in 2018.

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.

How much does the NY attorney general make?

State executive salariesOffice and current officialSalaryAttorney General of New York Letitia JamesNew York Secretary of State Robert RodriguezNew York Public Service Commission James Alesi$127,000New York Commissioner of Agriculture Richard A. Ball$120,80011 more rows

Who is above the district attorney?

In practice, district attorneys, who prosecute the bulk of criminal cases in the United States, answer to no one. The state attorney general is the highest law enforcement officer in state government and often has the power to review complaints about unethical and illegal conduct on the part of district attorneys.

How do you become a state attorney?

How do you become a state attorney? Almost every state requires that individuals complete a high school diploma and a 4-year college degree, as well as earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-approved law school, before sitting for the state bar examination and applying for licensure as attorneys.

Does Kansas have a Secretary of State?

The Secretary of State of Kansas is one of the constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Kansas. The current secretary of state is former Speaker pro tempore of the Kansas House of Representatives, Scott Schwab, who was sworn in on January 14, 2019.

What are the two independent boards of the Attorney General?

Two independent boards are also organized within the Attorney General's Office: the State Child Death Review Board and the Crime Victims Compensation Board. In addition, the attorney general serves as a member of or makes appointments to a number of other boards and commissions.

What is the Kansas Bureau of Investigation?

Among these divisions is the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the state's premier criminal investigative agency. Special task forces have also been established to specifically target drug manufacture and trafficking in the southeast and southwest portions of the state.

What is the office of the Attorney General of Kansas?

The Office of the Attorney General is established by the Kansas Constitution. As the state's chief legal officer and top law enforcement official, the Attorney General performs a range of duties as prescribed by state law and legal precedents. The office is organized into several divisions and units charged with performing these various functions.

How many divisions are there in the Kansas Attorney General's Office?

Each of the twelve divisions that make up the Office of the Kansas Attorney General is charged with performing a different set of duties. As of January 8, 2021, the office contains the following divisions:

What is the procedure for filling a vacancy in the executive office?

Article 1, Section 11 addresses the legal procedure for filling Vacancies in Executive Offices . When the office of secretary of state or attorney general is vacant, the governor shall fill the vacancy by appointment for the remainder of the term.

What is the job of the Attorney General of Kansas?

Duties. The Attorney General of Kansas is the state's chief legal official and law enforcement official. The attorney general's office carries out its prescribed duties through the coordinated efforts of its constituent divisions. The office is responsible for protecting consumers from fraud, assisting the victims of crime, ...

How long is the term of the Attorney General?

The attorney general is directly elected in federal midterm years and serves a term of four years.

When was Schmidt elected?

Schmidt was first elected in 2010, unseating incumbent Stephen Six in the November 2 general election. A member of the Kansas State Senate at the time of his election, Schmidt resigned his seat upon assuming the attorney general's office on January 10, 2011. Schmidt won re-election as attorney general in 2014 and 2018.

Who has authority over campaign finance violations in Kansas?

The Kansas Attorney General has authority over discipline of campaign finance law violations if it involves criminal laws or other matters that are not specified in the jurisdiction of the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission. The first step in filing a complaint is to file with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission (KGEC). It is up to the KGEC to determine the validity of a complaint before beginning any investigation.

Who are the constitutional officers of the executive department?

Article 1, Section 1: The constitutional officers of the executive department shall be the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general , who shall have such qualifications as are provided by law.

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 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 job of an attorney general?

The attorney general is the chief legal representative for the state and serves as general counsel for most of the state’s government agencies. Each state’s attorney general manages all legal representation of the state in civil and criminal matters on a state and federal level. Most attorneys general manage specific assistance programs ...

Who manages child support?

The state’s attorney general manages the child support process in some states. The office may run programs specifically to increase public safety or reduce unfair or fraudulent activities. In some states, this office is the guardian of the state’s natural resources through law enforcement.

Who is the head of the state's legal office?

R. Kimball. The State's Attorney General is the head of the state's legal office and is responsible for enforcing the law. A state’s attorney general is responsible for enforcing the law in the state where he or she was elected.

Is the Attorney General responsible for the state penal system?

These cases might be criminal or civil, depending upon the issue in the suit. In certain states, the state’s attorney general is responsible for representing the state penal system in an appeal to a federal court. The attorney general himself or herself cannot be present in court for each of these incidences, but a member ...

How many terms can an attorney general serve in Puerto Rico?

Many states have passed term limits limiting the selection to 2 consecutive terms (9 states); 2 terms maximum (4 states), but 33 states still have no term limits.

How long does an attorney general serve?

Elected attorneys general serve a four-year term, except in Vermont, where the term is two years. Seven states do not popularly elect an attorney general. In Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Wyoming, the attorney general is a gubernatorial appointee. The attorney general in Tennessee is appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court ...

What is the role of the Attorney General?

The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states, of the federal district, or of any of the territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. In some states, the attorney general serves as the head of a state department of justice, with responsibilities similar to those of the United States Department of Justice .

image

Current Officeholder

  • The current attorney general is Republican Derek Schmidt. Schmidt was first elected in 2010, unseating incumbent Stephen Six in the November 2 general election. A member of the Kansas State Senate at the time of his election, Schmidt resigned his seat upon assuming the attorney general's office on January 10, 2011. Schmidt won re-election as attorney general in 2014 and 2…
See more on ballotpedia.org

Authority

  • The attorney general's powers are derived from Article 1 of the Kansas Constitution. Article 1, Section 1:
See more on ballotpedia.org

Duties

  • The Attorney General of Kansas is the state's chief legal official and law enforcement official. The attorney general's office carries out its prescribed duties through the coordinated efforts of its constituent divisions. The office is responsible for protecting consumers from fraud, assisting the victims of crime, defending the state in civil pro...
See more on ballotpedia.org

Divisions

  • Each of the twelve divisions that make up the Office of the Kansas Attorney Generalis charged with performing a different set of duties. As of January 8, 2021, the office contains the following divisions: 1. Administration Division 2. Civil Litigation Division 3. Consumer Protection Division 4. Crime Victims Compensation Division 5. Criminal Litigation Division 6. Fraud & Abuse Litigation …
See more on ballotpedia.org

Compensation

  • The salary of the attorney general, along with other Kansas elected executives, is determined by the Kansas State Legislature. Article I, Section 13 maintains state executive salaries as legally fixed and may not be reduced during the current term, unless such a reduction applies to all salaried state officers. However, under Article 15, Section 7the legislature may reduce the salar…
See more on ballotpedia.org

Historical Officeholders

  • There have been 44 Kansas attorneys general since 1861. There were also three attorneys general of the Kansas Territory between 1854 and 1861. Of the 47 officeholders, 35 were Republican, seven were Democrat, two were Populist, and three were unknown.
See more on ballotpedia.org

Recent News

  • The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Kansas Attorney General.These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See more on ballotpedia.org

Contact Information

  • Capitol Address: Kansas Attorney General Steve Six Memorial Hall, 2nd Floor 120 Southwest 10th Street Topeka, KS 66612 Phone: (785) 296-2215 Toll Free Phone: (888) 428-8436 Fax: (785) 296-6296 E-mail: [email protected]
See more on ballotpedia.org

See Also

External Links