what is the kentucky attorney general's duties

by Joy Heaney 4 min read

The Attorney General is the chief law officer of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and all of its departments, commissions, agencies, and political subdivisions, and the legal adviser of all state officers, departments, commissions, and agencies, and when requested in writing shall furnish to them his written opinion ...

What is the responsibility of an 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

What is the most important duty of state Attorney General?

Attorneys general are the top legal officers of their state or territory. 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.

What are the duties of the attorney general check all that apply?

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.

How is a US Attorney General hired?

A U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE: BASIC FACTS U.S. Attorneys are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and they serve terms of four years or at the President's discretion.

How long is the term of the Kentucky Attorney General?

The Attorney General holds an ex officio seat on various Kentucky state boards and agencies. The Attorney General of Kentucky is elected for a four-year term in the same year other statewide officers are elected, rather than being appointed as in some states such as Alaska.

Who is the governor of Kentucky?

Cameron's predecessor, Democrat Andy Beshear, resigned from the post on December 10, 2019 to be sworn in as Governor of Kentucky. Beshear appointed Cameron to serve out the remainder of his unexpired term on December 17, 2019.

How many terms can an attorney general serve in Kentucky?

An attorney general only be elected to two consecutive terms and is ineligible to run for the four years following his second term under Section 93 of the Kentucky Constitution .

How old do you have to be to be an attorney general in Kentucky?

The Kentucky Constitution requires that the attorney general be at least 30 years old, a resident of Kentucky for two years before election, and must have practiced law for eight years.

Who ran for governor in 2015?

There was a regularly scheduled election for attorney general in 2015. Jack Conway (D) was eligible for re-election but ran for governor. The primary election occurred on May 19, 2015, and the general election occurred on November 3, 2015.

How long are the Treasurer and Auditor of Public Accounts in office?

The Treasurer, Auditor of Public Accounts, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Agriculture, Labor and Statistics, and Attorney General shall be ineligible to re-election for the succeeding four years after the expiration of any second consecutive term for which they shall have been elected. The duties and responsibilities of these officers shall be prescribed by law, and all fees collected by any of said officers shall be covered into the treasury. Inferior State officers and members of boards and commissions, not specifically provided for in this Constitution, may be appointed or elected, in such manner as may be prescribed by law, which may include a requirement of consent by the Senate, for a term not exceeding four years, and until their successors are appointed or elected and qualified.

Who is responsible for campaign finance in Kentucky?

The Attorney General of Kentucky is responsible for all campaign finance disciplinary matters regardless if the alleged complaint involves civil or criminal laws. The first step in filing a campaign finance complaint is to file with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance.

How is the salary of an attorney general determined?

Salary for the attorney general is determined by statute, and is automatically adjusted upwards every year to account for inflation. Section 96 of the Kentucky Constitution stipulates compensation for duties must be paid as a salary and in no other way.

Who did Andy Beshear beat?

Democrat Andy Beshear defeated Republican opponent, Whitney Westerfield, by 0.2 percentage points. Beshear was one of two Democrats to win statewide office in the 2015 Kentucky state executive official elections.

Who is the attorney general of Kentucky?

The attorney general is the chief law officer, chief law enforcement officer and legal adviser for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He provides legal counsel to state officials regarding their official duties on request and prepares legal instruments and documents for public use. He also represents the state of Kentucky or its officials and agencies in litigation.

How to register to vote in Kentucky?

Voters in Kentucky can register to vote by printing off a voter registration card and mailing the completed card to the Kentucky State Board of Elections. A voter registration card can also be obtained from a county clerk.

Who did Andy Beshear beat?

Democrat Andy Beshear defeated Republican opponent, Whitney Westerfield, by 0.2 percentage points. Beshear was one of two Democrats to win statewide office in the 2015 Kentucky state executive official elections.

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.

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.

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 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.

Who is Marissa Jordan?

Marissa Jordan is an accountant and freelance writer interested in current events, economics, and science. Formerly, she wrote for technical blogs on specialized software. When not writing or accounting, she likes spending time with family, reading, and trivia.

What does the Attorney General represent?

The attorney general must represent the public interest in the protection of any gifts, legacies, or devises intended for public or charitable purposes . All writs, summonses, or other processes served upon such officers and legislators must be transmitted by them to the attorney general.

What is the power of the attorney general?

General Powers and Duties (CGS § 3-125) The law gives the attorney general supervision over all legal matters in which the state is an interested party, except those over which prosecuting officers have direction.

When was the Office of Attorney General established?

SUMMARY. The Office of Attorney General was established by the legislature in 1897. The constitution requires a general election for attorney general every four years. This requirement was added to the constitution in 1974. The constitution does not impose any duties or confer any powers on the attorney general.

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 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.

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Current Officeholder

  • The current attorney general of Kentucky is Republican Daniel Cameron. Cameron was elected to the attorney general's office on November 5, 2019. When former Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear(D) was elected as governor, he appointed Cameron to serve for the remainder of Beshear's term. Cameron assumed office on December 17, 2019.
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Authority

  • The attorney general's authority derives from Kentucky statute, which provides that, "The Attorney General is head of the Department of Law." Though the office of attorney general is specifically authorized by the state constitution, its authority is "prescribed by law," and thus does not require constitutional action to modify.
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Qualifications

  • The Kentucky Constitutionrequires that the attorney general be at least 30 years old, a resident of Kentucky for two years before election, and must have practiced law for eight years. Kentucky Constitution, Section 91: Kentucky Constitution, Section 92:
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Elections

  • The attorney general, like all Kentucky executive officers, is chosen in the year preceding a presidential election (e.g. 2015, 2019, 2023). The incumbent is inaugurated on the first Monday in January after his election.The attorney general is elected for a four-year term. A 1992 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution permits the attorney general to serve two consecutive terms. The a…
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Vacancies

  • The Kentucky Constitution allows the governor to fill vacancies in all state executive offices, including the attorney general. These temporary appointments expire after the next election.
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Duties

  • The attorney general is the chief law officer, chief law enforcement officer and legal adviser for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He provides legal counsel to state officials regarding their official duties on request and prepares legal instruments and documents for public use. He also represents the state of Kentucky or its officials and agencies in litigation. Beyond providing lega…
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Divisions

  • As of January 10, 2021, the Kentucky Department of Law, which the attorney general heads, has three main divisions encompassing a number of different offices: criminal, civil, and appellate.
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Historical Officeholders

  • Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Attorney General of Kentucky has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any a…
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Recent News

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

  • Office of the Attorney General Capitol Suite 118 700 Capitol Avenue Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-3449 Phone: 502-696-5300 Fax: 502-564-2894 E-mail: [email protected]
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Election Results

  • General
    Democrat Andy Beshear defeated Republican opponent, Whitney Westerfield, by 0.2 percentage points. Beshear was one of two Democrats to win statewide office in the 2015 Kentucky state executive official elections.
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Candidates

  • Incumbent
    Jack Conway Note: Conway was ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits and was running in the 2015 race for governor.
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Key Deadlines

  • Voter registration
    Voters in Kentucky can register to vote by printing off a voter registration cardand mailing the completed card to the Kentucky State Board of Elections. A voter registration card can also be obtained from a county clerk. Applicants must identify their party registration on the card. Voter…
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Race Background

  • In March 2015, Republican candidate and state Sen. Whitney Westerfield sponsored a bill to increase transparency and limit contracts between the state Department of Justice and law firms representing the state. Westerfield's bill proposed greater clarity for state residents interested in which law firms represent the state and how much money is given to these firms under continge…
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Campaign Finance

  • First quarter report (2015) Comprehensive donor information for this election was collected from the state's campaign finance authority. Based on available campaign finance records, the candidates raised a total of $425,374 and spent a total of $117,774.29during this reporting period. This information was last updated on May 4, 2015. Fourth quarter report (2014) Comprehensive …
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Recent News

  • This section links to a Google news search for the term "Kentucky + Attorney + General + election + 2015"
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See Also

What Is The Role of The Attorney General?

  • The Attorney General is the Head of the Justice Department and the attorney for the United States in all legal matters. They dispense legal advice to the president and the heads of other governmental agencies when requested. The Attorney General may support important cases that go to the Supreme Court of the United States if the case is deemed important in nature. The Atto…
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How Does One Become Attorney General?

  • The position of Attorney General is an appointed one, nominated by the president and confirmed by the United States Senate. 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 …
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What Are The Most Important Powers of The Attorney General?

  • 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. As the Justice Department has such wide-reaching tentacles of power in matter…
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Who Is The Current Attorney General?

  • 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 that the Executive branch claims a…
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What Agencies Are Under 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: 1. Antitrust 2. Civil 3. Civil Rights 4. Criminal 5. Environmental and Natural Resources 6. Tax Each division is headed up by an Assistant Attorney General, and man…
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History of The Attorney General

  • The Office of the Attorney General was createdin 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. The work quickly grew, requiring the addition of multiple assistants and private attorne…
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List of Attorneys General

  1. William Barr, 2019 – Present
  2. Jeff Sessions, 2017 – 2018
  3. Loretta Lynch, 2015 – 2017
  4. Eric Holder, Jr., 2009 – 2015
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The Rantt Rundown

  • The Department of Justice, created in 1789, has grown from a part-time, one-person office to become the world’s largest law office, encompassing sixty different agencies and offices. 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 tr…
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