State Attorneys 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. Select your state to connect to your state attorney general's website.
A State's Attorney is the most common term for a prosecutor, someone who represents the people in criminal and civil legal matters. But while the most iconic image of a State's Attorney is the trial prosecutor depicted in countless television shows, books and films, State's Attorneys don't just prosecute accused criminals.
Jan 14, 2022 · state attorney: [noun] a government official (such as a district attorney) who represents a U.S. state in court cases within a district.
State Attorney. Katherine Fernandez Rundle was appointed State Attorney for Miami-Dade County in 1993. She has subsequently been re-elected seven times to serve as the County's top law enforcement officer. She received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Miami and both her Master's degree in Criminology and law degree from the University of Cambridge Law …
Attorney General of New York | |
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Flag of the State of New York | |
Incumbent Letitia James since January 1, 2019 | |
Department of Law | |
Style | The Honorable |
State | Attorney State? |
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New Mexico | No |
New York | Yes - Attorney State |
North Carolina | Yes - Attorney State |
North Dakota | Yes - Attorney State |
District | United States Attorney |
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New York, Eastern | Breon S. Peace * |
New York, Northern | Carla B. Freedman * |
New York, Southern | Damian Williams * |
New York, Western | Trini E. Ross * |
A State's Attorney, along with a phalanx of Assistant State's Attorneys, prosecutes criminal and civil cases for the people.
In general, State's Attorneys are elected by the people they represent. Their duties are spelled out in the laws of the local governments they represent, and they're held accountable by the voters for how well they do their jobs and how well their performance matches up with the local politics of the area. But a State's Attorney hardly ever does ...
Criminal prosecutions are the chief duty of most State's Attorney offices. In many states, such as Michigan, criminal prosecutions follow a predetermined series of steps [source: Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan ]. First, police file a warrant or charging request with the State's Attorney following an investigation.
About half the 50 states use grand jury indictments in criminal prosecutions. Grand juries hear cases brought by State's Attorneys, and only the evidence and witnesses presented by the State's Attorney are considered.
For example, the Cook County State's Attorney in Chicago has more than 900 lawyers and a total staff of 1,600 employees [source: Cook County State's Attorney's Office ]. Assistant State's Attorneys, also known as Deputy State's Attorneys,are the ones who actually appear in court, file the legal briefs and interview witnesses. The State's Attorney, on the other hand, is in charge of policy, staffing and running the office, and making decisions about certain high-profile cases.
But a State's Attorney hardly ever does the job alone . Many have offices that contain dozens or even hundreds of appointed assistant or deputy State's Attorneys, as well as support staff. These assistants or deputies are the ones who routinely appear in court, representing the State's Attorney's office.
The State's Attorney can be the debt collector for local government, especially when it comes to property taxes and bankruptcy issues.The office also offers legal advice and representation for local government human service agencies when it comes to child protection and welfare, child support, and adult services, including civil commitment hearings, welfare assistance and vulnerable adult issues.
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 .
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 ...
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.
State Attorney Fernandez Rundle prides herself in being a career crime fighter. She has dedicated herself to every cause imaginable in her relentless commitment to keep our streets safe. She is recognized as a pioneer in the creation of numerous programs dealing with issues that affect our community daily such as:
As the legal arm of the 35 different police departments in our county, the office's mission is to see that the guilty are convicted while the rights of the innocent are protected. The State Attorney's Office prides itself in being the voice for every victim that is wronged by crime.
The State Attorney believes in sharing her time, influence, and resources with her community that she is passionate about. She is a founding member and Vice-President of Women of Tomorrow and is also very active in important organizations such as Amigos for Kids, 5000 Role Models, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and numerous others.
The Administrative Services Bureau, which consists of all office support personnel, handles all administrative tasks of the State's Attorney's Office. This includes providing administrative support in the form of data entry, administrative assistants, clerks, receptionists, mailroom/supply clerks, warehouse facility clerks, law librarians, ...
The Criminal Prosecutions Bureau is divided into several divisions including Felony Trial, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Municipal, Traffic, Conviction Integrity, Community Justice as well as the nationally recognized Victim Witness Assistance Unit that provides specialized services to victims of crime and their families
The Investigations Bureau consists of more than 120 sworn officers who provide investigative and logistical support to Assistant State’s Attorneys in their preparation and presentation of cases. Investigators also complement and supplement local law enforcement efforts by providing them with investigative assistance, expertise and technical resources.
The Narcotics Bureau handles tens of thousands of cases each year and focuses most of its efforts on long-term investigations that target major dealers operating often with violent street gangs. The bureau seeks treatment programs, such as a successful Drug School, for low-level users.
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.
The most prevalent method of selecting a state's attorney general is by popular election. 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 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 …
State attorneys general enforce both state and federal laws. Because they are sworn to uphold the United States' constitution and laws as well as the state's, they often decline to defend the state in federal lawsuits.
• State constitutional officer (United States)
• National Association of Attorneys General
• List of U.S. statewide elected officials
• Listing of official State Attorney General websites