what is the job of the attorney general in california and how are they chosen

by Ethelyn Brakus 9 min read

What are the duties of the California Attorney General?

35 rows · 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". The 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 …

How many employees does the California Attorney General have?

The California Department of Justice (CA DOJ or CAL DOJ) is a statewide investigative law enforcement agency and legal department of the California executive branch under the elected leadership of the California Attorney General (AG) which carries out complex criminal and civil investigations, prosecutions, and other

What is the job of the California Department of Justice?

The Attorney General is the state's top lawyer and law enforcement official, protecting and serving the people and interests of California through a broad range of duties. 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

Who is California’s new Attorney General?

Click for high-resolution photo. On April 23, 2021, Rob Bonta was sworn in as the 34th Attorney General of the State of California, the first person of Filipino descent and the second Asian-American to occupy the position. Attorney General Bonta's passion for justice and fairness was instilled in him by his parents, who served on the frontlines of some of America's most …

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How is the California attorney general selected?

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 role of the California attorney general?

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.

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.More items...•Oct 8, 2021

How is the Attorney General of the US chosen?

The attorney general is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States. Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution, the officeholder is nominated by the president of the United States, then appointed with the advice and consent of the United States Senate.

What does a California deputy attorney general do?

A Deputy Attorney General III represents and acts as counsel for large State departments, for a group of boards and commissions whose legal work is difficult, and advises district attorneys, county counsels, grand juries, and other public agencies staffed principally by attorneys.

How much does the California attorney general 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 Weber6 more rows

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.Feb 20, 2020

Is Attorney General appointed by President?

The President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, an Attorney General of the United States. The Attorney General is the head of the Department of Justice. (Added Pub. L.

How many attorney generals are there in the United States?

Term Limits. Of the 50 Attorneys General, 25 do not have a formal provision specifying the number of terms allowed. Of the 44 elected attorneys general, all serve four-year terms with the exception of Vermont, who serves a two-year term.

Is the Speaker of the House appointed by the President?

The Speaker is simultaneously the House's presiding officer, party leader, and the institution's administrative head, among other duties. The Speaker is elected at the beginning of a new Congress by a majority of the Representatives-elect from candidates separately chosen by the majority- and minority-party caucuses.

What is the job of the Attorney General of California?

Duties. The attorney general acts as the state's chief law officer and oversees the California Department of Justice. He or she supervises the state's district and city attorneys, as well as its law enforcement officers.

What does the Attorney General do?

Further, the attorney general plays a direct role in law enforcement efforts and "coordinates statewide narcotics enforcement efforts, participates in criminal investigations and provides forensic science services, identification and information services and telecommunication support.".

How to become an attorney general?

Additionally, each candidate for attorney general must: 1 Be a registered voter 2 Be registered with their party for at least three months#N#Not have been registered with a different political party in the last 12 months 3 Not have been previously term-limited out

How many terms can a governor serve in California?

No Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Controller, Secretary of State, or Treasurer may serve in the same office for more than 2 terms.

How are the salaries of California elected executives determined?

The salaries of California's elected executives are determined by the California Citizens Compensation Commission, a seven-member board appointed by the governor to six-year terms. The commission was established after voters passed Proposition 112, an amendment to the California Constitution, in 1990.

What happens when a governor vacancy occurs?

When a vacancy occurs, the governor nominates a replacement to serve the remainder of the term under the next election. The appointee must be confirmed by a majority of both house of the California legislature. Until the replacement is approved, the former officeholder's chief deputy exercises the office.

When is the attorney general election?

Elections. Attorneys general are elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in federal midterm election years, e.g. 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030. Like all constitutional state officers, the attorney general assumes office on the first Monday in the new year following the election.

What is the office of the Attorney General?

The Attorney General is the state's top lawyer and law enforcement official, protecting and serving the people and interests of California through a broad range of duties. The Attorney General's responsibilities include safeguarding Californians from harm and promoting community safety, ...

How long is the term of the Attorney General?

Under the state Constitution, the Attorney General is elected to a four-year term in the same statewide election as the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Controller, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Insurance Commissioner.

What does the judicial officer do?

Serves as legal counsel to state officers and, with few exceptions, to state agencies, boards and commissions. Assists district attorneys, local law enforcement and federal and international criminal justice agencies in the administration of justice.

Who is the Attorney General of California in 2021?

On April 23, 2021, Rob Bonta was sworn in as the 34th Attorney General of the State of California, the first person of Filipino descent and the second Asian-American to occupy the position.

What did Attorney General Bonta do?

In the State Assembly, Attorney General Bonta enacted nation-leading reforms to inject more justice and fairness into government and institutions.

What did Rosa Caballero do for law enforcement?

In 2019, she played a role in negotiating the state’s landmark law limiting police use of deadly force — by carrying an alternative bill that police unions backed. It didn’t make the changes that civil rights advocates sought but served as a tool that helped forge compromise between the two sides, which Newsom wanted. In the end, he signed both her bill to require conflict de-escalation training for officers, and the other bill that limited the circumstances when police can shoot. She spoke openly about her fear, as a Latina mother, that her teenage son could be harmed by police, telling CalMatters that she told him: “‘They’re going to see you as a Mexican kid.’”

Who appointed Liu to the Supreme Court?

Gov. Jerry Brown then appointed him to the California Supreme Court, where he has cemented his reputation as a liberal jurist, writing decisions that favor workers over employers, and becoming what UC Berkeley law school dean Erwin Chemerinsky called “the court’s leading voice on criminal justice reform.”

Who is the senator who spoke in favor of AB 5?

Sen. Anna Caballero speaks in favor of AB 5, a bill that would re-classify contract workers, during the floor debate on September 10, 2019. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Who was the first black woman to serve as California's secretary of state?

Observers have noted Mr. Newsom’s penchant for history-making political appointments; Mr. Padilla is the first Latino senator from California and Ms. Weber is the first Black woman to serve as California’s secretary of state.

What is Oakland's guaranteed income program?

Compiled by Priya Arora. Oakland is piloting a guaranteed income program to combat poverty in the city. Mayor Libby Schaaf announced that 600 low-income families of color, chosen at random, will soon get $500 a month for 18 months. The program follows similar experiments in California and around the country.

Who is the head of Biden's Department of Health and Human Services?

The job has been officially open since Xavier Becerra was confirmed last week as the head of President Biden’s Department of Health and Human Services, where he’ll help lead the nation’s pandemic response. [Read the full story about the announcement.]

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 happens if there is no Attorney General?

There is also a succession plan in place in the event there is no Attorney General due to absence or death, which allows the Deputy Attorney General to assume all powers and duties of the office. While the Deputy Attorney General would not be a confirmed Attorney General, they would have all of the powers of the office at hand as interim Attorney ...

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.

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.

Why should the Justice Department not be politicized?

The Department of Justice should be arguing to uphold the law and the office should not be politicized due to presidential influence or pressure. The Justice Department is supposed to be an independent agency and not subject to the pressure of the executive branch.

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 did Barr do to preserve the power of the Trump presidency?

In addition, Barr has indicated he is willing to do whatever it takes to preserve the power of the Trump presidency, even if constitutional violations occur. Barr began his tenure last year by lying about the content of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report.

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Current Officeholder

Authority

Qualifications

  • State law requires that the attorney general be admitted to practice before the California Supreme Courtfor five years before election. California Government Code, Section 12503 Additionally, each candidate for attorney general must: 1. Be a registered voter 2. Be registered with their party for at least three months 2.1. Not have been registered with a different political party in the last 12 mo…
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Elections

  • Attorneys general are elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in federal midterm election years, e.g. 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030.Like all constitutional state officers, the attorney general assumes office on the first Monday in the new year following the election. California Constitution, Article 5, Section 11
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Vacancies

  • The vacancy procedure for the office of attorney general is determined by the Constitution. When a vacancy occurs, the governornominates a replacement to serve the remainder of the term under the next election. The appointee must be confirmed by a majority of both house of the California legislature. Until the replacement is approved, the former officeholder's chief deputy exercises th…
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Duties

  • The attorney general acts as the state's chief law officer and oversees the California Department of Justice. He or she supervises the state's district and city attorneys, as well as its law enforcement officers. The attorney general may personally prosecute any case that would normally be handled by a district or city attorney and represents the s...
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Divisions

  • As of January 12, 2021, the California Attorney General's Office is composed of the following divisions. 1. Public Safety 2. Opinions and Quo Warranto 3. Research Advisory Panel 4. Research Center 5. Children & Families 6. Civil Rights 7. Consumer Protection 8. Environment & Public Health
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Historical Officeholders

  • There have been 33 California attorneys general since 1849. Of the 32 officeholders, 19 were Democrat, 13 were Republican and one was American Independent.
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Recent News

  • The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms California Attorney General Rob Bonta.These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
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Contact Information

  • Physical address: Attorney General's Office California Department of Justice Attention: Public Inquiry Unit Post Office Box 944255 Sacramento, CA 94244-2550 Phone: 916-210-6276 Fax:916-323-5341
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