what is th efunction of opinion of the us attorney general

by Lloyd Gulgowski PhD 4 min read

An attorney general opinion is a written interpretation of existing law. Attorney general opinions cannot create new provisions in the law or correct unintended, undesirable effects of the law.

What is an attorney general opinion?

An attorney general opinion is a written interpretation of existing law. Attorney general opinions cannot create new provisions in the law or correct unintended, undesirable effects of the law. Attorney general opinions do not necessarily reflect the attorney general's personal views, nor does the attorney general in any way "rule" on what the law should say.

What is the purpose of the Office of Attorney General?

Mar 22, 2022 · The United States attorney general is the head of the Department of Justice and the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The position is part of the president's Cabinet, which ...

How do I submit an opinion to the Texas Attorney General?

Jun 20, 2020 · The Attorney General will provide advice and guidance to the president and other high ranking officials regarding the law and how it should be implemented. This provides the Attorney General with a great deal of power, as they would have the ability to shape how laxly or punitively the law is to be applied.

Who is the Attorney General of the US?

Feb 16, 2022 · The United States Attorney is responsible for a wide variety of prosecutions consistent with the priorities set by the Attorney General of the United States and exercises wide discretion in the use of her resources to meet the needs of the communities in the Western District of Texas. Assistant U.S. Attorneys working at the direction of the ...

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What is the function of the U.S. Attorney General?

The principal duties of the Attorney General are to: Represent the United States in legal matters. Supervise and direct the administration and operation of the offices, boards, divisions, and bureaus that comprise the Department.Oct 8, 2021

Why are the opinions of the U.S. Attorney General so persuasive?

“Opinions of the Attorney General, while not binding, are entitled to great weight. [Citations.] In the absence of controlling authority, these opinions are persuasive 'since the legislature is presumed to be cognizant of that construction of the statute.

What powers does the attorney general of the United States have?

As the chief officer of the Department of Justice, the attorney general enforces federal laws, provides legal counsel in federal cases, interprets the laws that govern executive departments, heads federal jails and penal institutions, and examines alleged violations of federal laws.

What is a Department of Justice opinion?

The Judiciary Act of 1789 authorizes the U.S. Attorney General to issue opinions on questions of law if requested by the President or Executive Branch departments. The authority to give legal opinions has been delegated to the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) by the U.S. Attorney General.Mar 21, 2022

What are opinions in law?

With respect to law, “opinion” primarily refers to a judicial opinion, which is a court's written statement explaining the court's decision for the case.

Are attorney general opinions binding in Florida?

They are advisory only and are not binding in a court of law.

What are the functions of the Attorney General in Kenya?

Duties. The attorney general's duties include the formulation of legal policy and ensuring proper administration of Kenya's legal system including professional legal education. Assisting the Attorney General in the performance of his duties as Principal Legal Adviser to the Government are: Solicitor General.

What does the attorney general do quizlet?

the principal legal officer who represents a country or a state in legal proceedings and gives legal advice to the government.

Who can remove the attorney general?

the President
He can be removed by the President at any time. He can quit by submitting his resignation only to the President. Since he is appointed by the President on the advice of the Council of Ministers, conventionally he is removed when the council is dissolved or replaced.

How do you cite an attorney general opinion?

Enter an Opinion Number "xx-xxx", Citation Number "xx Ops. Cal. Atty. Gen.
...
Legal Opinions of the Attorney General - Search for Opinions (1982 - Current)
  1. Opinion Number (e.g., 12-301);
  2. Official Citation (e.g., 95 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 1); or.
  3. Word or Phrase from the text of the Opinion's Question or Conclusion.

Who can request an attorney general opinion in California?

Under section 12519, the Attorney General may give opinions only to the specified public officials, and not to private citizens or to public officials who are not listed in the statute.Jan 17, 2018

Does Westlaw have Attorney General Opinions?

Westlaw contains Attorney General Opinions from 1791 through the current editions. Opinions of the Office of Legal Counsel are available from 1977 through the present.Jul 28, 2021

What is the job of the Attorney General?

The attorney general serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United Stateson all legal matters. The attorney general is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States.

Is "general" a noun?

The title "attorney general" is an example of a noun (attorney) followed by a postpositive adjective(general).[8]". General" is a description of the type of attorney, not a title or rank in itself (as it would be in the military).[8]

What are the duties of the Attorney General?

The principal duties of the Attorney General are to: Represent the United States in legal matters. Supervise and direct the administration and operation of the offices, boards, divisions, and bureaus that comprise the Department. Furnish advice and opinions, formal and informal, on legal matters to the President and the Cabinet and to the heads ...

What is the Office of the Associate Attorney General?

Office of the Associate Attorney General. The Office of the Associate Attorney General (OASG) was created by Attorney General Order No. 699-77 on March 10, 1977. As the third-ranking official at the Department of Justice, the ASG is a principal member of the Attorney General’s senior management team. The major functions of the ASG are to:

Who created the Office of the Deputy Attorney General?

Office of the Deputy Attorney General. On May 24, 1950, Attorney General J. Howard McGrath created the Office of the Deputy Attorney General (ODAG). The Deputy Attorney, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the Department's second-ranking official and functions as a Chief Operating Officer;

When was the Department of Justice established?

In June 1870 Congress enacted a law entitled “An Act to Establish the Department of Justice.”. This Act established the Attorney General as head of the Department of Justice and gave the Attorney General direction and control of U.S. Attorneys and all other counsel employed on behalf of the United States. The Act also vested in the Attorney General ...

Who Can Request an Attorney General Opinion?

Only those requestors authorized by law may seek the Attorney General's written advice through a formal opinion.

How do I Request an Attorney General Opinion?

No specific formatting requirements exist to submit a request, but it should include any relevant background information and known legal authorities significant to the subject matter.

Who Can Submit a Brief?

The Attorney General accepts briefing on pending opinion requests from any governmental entity, organization, or person, including members of the general public. Briefing should be submitted by Email to [email protected] . All briefing and materials submitted are subject to the Public Information Act.

History of the Office

What do Robert F. Kennedy, Janet Reno and Alberto Gonzalez have in common? These people have held the office of United States Attorney General. The United States Attorney General is the head of the Department of Justice and the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government.

Duties of the Office

Now, let's take a look at the role and purpose of the U.S. Attorney General. The Attorney General's main purpose is to supervise the Department of Justice. The Department of Justice includes many important federal law enforcement agencies, such as:

Famous Cases

Because the U.S. Attorney General has so many different roles, the office has been involved in some interesting cases and issues. For example, then Attorney General Janet Reno authorized the 1993 raid on the Branch Davidian religious compound in Waco, Texas.

What is the role of the Attorney General?

Attorneys throughout the country, the Attorney General may provide guidance interpreting the law to assist in prosecuting or defending the United States in legal proceedings. The Attorney General also oversees the federal prison system and all of the systems that pertain to it.

Who is the Attorney General of the United States?

William Barr is the current Attorney General of the United States. He replaced Jeff Sessions in 2019 after President Trump fired Sessions. Barr has served as Attorney General twice, once during the George H.W. Bush administration from 1991 to 1993, and currently in the Trump administration. Barr has been consistent in his determination ...

Who replaced Jeff Sessions?

He replaced Jeff Sessions in 2019 after President Trump fired Sessions. Barr has served as Attorney General twice, once during the George H.W. Bush administration from 1991 to 1993, and currently in the Trump administration.

How many times has Barr been Attorney General?

Barr has served as Attorney General twice, once during the George H.W. Bush administration from 1991 to 1993, and currently in the Trump administration. Barr has been consistent in his determination that the Executive branch claims absolute executive authority, contrary to our system of checks and balances.

What is the Department of Justice?

The Department of Justice is responsible for most of the legal business of the government, and therefore, many of the law enforcement agencies throughout the country . There are six litigating divisions in the department: Antitrust.

When was the Office of the Attorney General created?

The Office of the Attorney General was created in 1789 and was intended to be a one-person position. The person in the position was supposed to be “learned in the law” and was tasked with conducting all suits in the Supreme Court and advising the president and cabinet in law-related matters.

Who is in charge of the Justice Department?

The Attorney General is in charge of the Department and is responsible for all aspects of the Justice Department. The head of this vast bureaucracy has enough impact to shape the way laws are treated by law enforcement professionals across the country.

What is an assistant U.S. attorney?

Attorneys working at the direction of the United States Attorney prosecute criminal cases brought by the United States against individuals and organizations who violate criminal laws enacted by the United States Congress.

Who is the attorney for the Western District of Texas?

The Western District of Texas is one of four federal judicial districts in Texas, and one of the largest in the country. Ashley C. Hoff is the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas and is the chief federal law enforcement officer of the United States within this district.

What is the job of the Attorney General of Washington?

The Attorney General is the constitutional legal adviser to state officers. The specific duties of the office include: Representing the State of Washington in the courts in all cases in which the state is interested. Defending the state and its agencies and employees when acting in their official capacities.

What is the phone number for the Washington State Attorney General?

If you need to receive the information in this brochure in an alternate format, please call (206) 464-6684. The hearing impaired may call 1-800-833-6388 statewide. Published by the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.

What is informal opinion?

Informal opinions are letters that present the considered legal analysis of the Assistant Attorneys General who write them. They also often reflect a consensus of the legal analysis of other staff involved in preparing the informal opinion. They are not personally approved by the Attorney General.

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Office of The Attorney General

  • The position of Attorney General was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789. In June 1870 Congress enacted a law entitled “An Act to Establish the Department of Justice.” This Act established the Attorney General as head of the Department of Justice and gave the Attorney General direction and control of U.S. Attorneys and all other counsel employed on behalf of the United States. Th…
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Office of The Deputy Attorney General

  • On May 24, 1950, Attorney General J. Howard McGrath created the Office of the Deputy Attorney General (ODAG). The Deputy Attorney, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the Department's second-ranking official and functions as a Chief Operating Officer; 25 components and 93 U.S. Attorneys report directly to the Deputy and 13 additional component…
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Office of The Associate Attorney General

  • The Office of the Associate Attorney General (OASG) was created by Attorney General Order No. 699-77 on March 10, 1977. As the third-ranking official at the Department of Justice, the ASG is a principal member of the Attorney General’s senior management team. The major functions of the ASG are to: 1. Advise and assist the Attorney General and Deput...
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