Learn more about the powers and responsibilities of attorneys general. 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.
Eventually, the Justice Department was established in 1870, and the attorney general was designated as its head, thereby codifying the position’s place within the executive branch. A file photo from 2017 shows President Donald Trump and then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions. AP Photo/Evan Vucci
The U.S. Constitution makes no mention of attorneys general, who today administer justice by overseeing more than 100,000 federal employees in approximately 40 separate component organizations, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
AGD performance expectations Our performance expectations explain the criteria for job suitability and performance for our people. They encourage consistent performance and help us achieve our goals. APS1 performance expectations
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.
Presidential transition[edit] It is the practice for the attorney general, along with the other Cabinet secretaries and high-level political appointees of the President, to tender a resignation with effect on the Inauguration Day(January 20) of a new president.
Gerson was fourth in the line of succession at the Justice Department, but other senior DOJ officials had already resigned.[14] Janet Reno, President Clinton's nominee for attorney general, was confirmed on March 12,[15]and he resigned the same day.
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]
Our performance expectations explain the criteria for job suitability and performance for our people. They encourage consistent performance and help us achieve our goals.
Our employees must hold a security clearance. Arrangements for you to obtain a clearance will occur before your start date.
All new APS employees must complete a period of probation. The timeframe will depend on how long you are employed.
Your attorney should also explain anticipated costs associated with your case, including expert witness and filing fees, and whether the attorney expects you to pay the costs upfront or whether he will advance some or all of the costs until the case is resolved. Fair Representation: It is not fair to expect your attorney to work miracles.
Some attorneys prefer the majority of client communication by phone calls, in-office meetings or mail, while others prefer communicating mainly by email. There is no "best" method – only what you and your attorney agree works for both of you.
Knowledge: Your attorney should have a thorough knowledge of deadlines, procedure and general legal principals in the area of law in which he or she specializes. But, do not expect your attorney to know all aspects of the law on command. Even if your attorney is the foremost expert in the area of the law in which you hired him, ...
Whether it is a negotiation meeting in a transactional case, a deposition, a court hearing, or trial, your attorney should be knowledgeable about the facts, the law, and your position.
Skill: Your attorney should be skillful and comfortable in his or her area of practice. A contract attorney should be able to draft clear, unambiguous contract language. Although your trial attorney will likely not be as dramatic as we see on TV, he or she should be comfortable in the courtroom.
Communication: Rules of ethics governing lawyers require a lawyer to keep their clients reasonably informed about the proceedings. At a minimum, this includes when: - The case is filed; - Settlement demands or offers are made; - Key motions are filed and resolved, and. - The case is dismissed.
Fair Representation: It is not fair to expect your attorney to work miracles. There are too many factors outside of the attorney's control, including the facts and the law. Even when the facts and law are on your side, you never know what a jury will do. Instead, you should expect fair representation, which is accomplished by ...
A lawyer is obligated to manage your case to their best of their abilities. They should resolve it in the most affordable and timely manner. Your attorney should never draw out your case for the purpose of incurring additional fees or overbilling.
It is your attorney’s job to guide you through your case and advise you on the best approach, but you always make the final decisions . An attorney should always follow your directions, even if they disagree with your instructions (as long as the instructions are legal). They can offer arguments and reasons for why your strategy isn’t recommended, but they are hired by you to act on your behalf and shouldn’t take action without your approval and permission.
Your lawyer should also be available to answer questions you have as you go through your case. In fact, they should anticipate stages where you may have questions and set times to review your case and give you an opportunity to ask questions about your case and strategy.
It’s your lawyer’s job to create the strategy for managing your case and to communicate that strategy to you. An attorney should explain what steps they are taking and why they believe their plan is the best option.
In most legal cases, there is no guarantee for a specific outcome. There are many factors that can impact the results of a case. It is your lawyer’s job to set realistic expectations for what that outcome may be. For example, if you approach a personal injury attorney and expect to win a million-dollar settlement, your attorney should advise you on whether or not that is possible.
All 50 states have an attorney general who serves as the state's chief legal officer. The attorney general is responsible for enforcing state law and advising the state government on legal matters. In many states, attorneys general play a large role in the law enforcement process.
Ballotpedia is highlighting news and conflicts in battleground primary elections for attorney general and other offices in The Heart of the Primaries newsletter. Click the image to subscribe to the newsletter.
The table below lists important dates throughout the 2022 election cycle, including filing deadlines and primary dates.
Edmund Jennings Randolph, the first attorney general of the United States. Virginia Museum of History and Culture, via Wikimedia Commons
Empowering the president to hire and fire the attorney general encourages presidents to pick attorneys general based on their perceived loyalty. It also motivates attorneys general to act in pursuit of the president’s political agenda – at least if they wish to stay employed.
Barr is not the first loyalist to serve as attorney general, and such appointments are not unique to Republican presidents.
Bill Barr, a controversial attorney general under Donald Trump. U.S. Department of Justice via Wikimedia Commons
The 2020 West Virginia Attorney General election was held on November 3, 2020 along with several federal and state elections . Republican incumbent Patrick Morrisey was re-elected with 51.63% of the vote in 2016 and successfully sought re-election.
The 2020 Montana Attorney General election will be held on November 3, 2020, to elect the Attorney General of the U.S. state of Montana. Incumbent Republican Montana Attorney General Tim Fox was re-elected in 2016 with 67.7% of the vote. Fox is term-limited and cannot run for re-election.
The 2020 Indiana Attorney General election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the Attorney General of the U.S. state of Indiana. The Democratic primary convention was scheduled for June 13, 2020.
The 2020 United States Attorney General elections were held on November 3, 2020, in 10 states. The previous Attorney General elections for this group of states took place in 2016, except in Vermont where Attorneys General only serve two-year terms and elected their current Attorney General in 2018. Nine state Attorneys General ran ...
Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, first elected in 2016, ran for re-election against Republican Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O'Neill. With a narrow margin separating Stein and O'Neill, the Associated Press was finally able to call Stein the winner on Nov. 17, 2020 (two weeks after Election Day).
The elections took place concurrently with the 2020 presidential election, elections to the House of Representatives and Senate, and numerous state and local elections. No Attorneys General offices changed party control in 2020.
Incumbent Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt was elected to a full term.