who is the attorney general of the united states 2021

by Prof. Marguerite Runolfsdottir V 9 min read

Who is the current Attorney General of the United States?

The attorney general is supported by the Office of the Attorney General, which includes executive staff and several deputies. Merrick Garland has been the United States attorney general since March 11, 2021. Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1789 which, among other things, established the Office of the Attorney General.

Who is the Attorney General currently?

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland was sworn in as the 86 th Attorney General of the United States on March 11, 2021. As the nation’s chief law enforcement officer, Attorney General Garland leads the Justice Department’s 115,000 employees, who work across the United States and in more than 50 countries worldwide.

Who is the current head of DOJ?

The Department of Justice is headed by the United States Attorney General, who is nominated by the President of the United States and must be confirmed by a majority vote of the U.S. Senate. The Attorney General is a member of the President’s Cabinet.

Who is the head of the US Department of Justice?

Who is the head of the Department of Justice? The head of the Department of Justice is Attorney General William Barr. Barr, 70, was appointed by President Trump in December 2018 to succeed former Attorney General Jeff Sessions as the 85th person to lead the department.

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Who is the current United States Attorney General?

Merrick GarlandUnited States / Attorney generalMerrick Brian Garland is an American lawyer and jurist serving as the 86th United States attorney general since March 2021. He served as a circuit judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1997 to 2021. Wikipedia

What is the new Attorney General's name?

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.

How many US attorneys general are there?

There are 93 U.S. Attorneys located throughout the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Who is the head of the Department of Justice 2021?

Attorney General Merrick B. GarlandAttorney General Merrick B. Garland was sworn in as the 86th Attorney General of the United States on March 11, 2021. As the nation's chief law enforcement officer, Attorney General Garland leads the Justice Department's 115,000 employees, who work across the United States and in more than 50 countries worldwide.

Who does the Attorney General of New York report to?

The attorney general advises the executive branch of state government and defends actions and proceedings on behalf of the state. The attorney general acts independently of the governor of New York.

Who is the highest law officer of a state?

Advocate General of the StateAdvocate General of the State is the highest law officer in the state. The Constitution of India (Article 165) has provided for the office of the Advocate General for the states. Also, he corresponds to the Attorney General of India.

Who was the last U.S. Attorney General?

List of U.S. attorneys generalAttorney GeneralYears of serviceMerrick Garland2021-PresentEric Holder2009-2015Michael B. Mukasey2007-2009Alberto R. Gonzales2005-200782 more rows

How much does the Attorney General of the United States make?

Salary Ranges for Attorney Generals The middle 57% of Attorney Generals makes between $101,019 and $254,138, with the top 86% making $560,998.

What did Attorney General Garland do before becoming a judge?

Before becoming a federal judge, Attorney General Garland spent a substantial part of his professional life at the Department of Justice. He served in both career and non-career positions under five Attorneys General, including as Special Assistant to the Attorney General, Assistant United States Attorney, Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division, and Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General. In those roles, his responsibilities spanned the work of the Department, including criminal, civil, and national security matters. They also included direct supervision of investigations and prosecutions of national importance , including the Oklahoma City bombing, Unabomber, and Montana Freemen cases.

Who is the Attorney General of the United States in 2021?

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland was sworn in as the 86 th Attorney General of the United States on March 11, 2021. As the nation’s chief law enforcement officer, Attorney General Garland leads the Justice Department’s 115,000 employees, who work across the United States and in more than 50 countries worldwide. Under his leadership, the Department of Justice is dedicated to upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting the civil rights of all Americans.

What is Garland's first priority?

AG nominee Garland says his first priority would be to prosecute Capitol rioters. The News with Shepard Smith. “I would not have taken this job if I thought that politics would have any influence over prosecutions and investigations,” Garland told lawmakers at his hearing.

Who was the attorney general before Biden?

Before Biden tapped Garland to be attorney general, the centrist lawyer was nominated by former President Barack Obama to a seat on the Supreme Court in 2016 to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

Did Biden and Garland discuss the tax affairs of Hunter Biden?

He said that he and Biden had not discussed an ongoing investigation into the tax affairs of Hunter Biden, the president’s son. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., cheered Garland’s nomination ahead of the vote on Wednesday.

Who is the head of the Department of Justice?

Garland takes over as the head of the Department of Justice as the sprawling agency continues to investigate the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, one of the largest probes in its history. Garland has called the inquiry his No. 1 priority.

How did Sharpton respond to the Garland pick?

Sharpton responded to the Garland pick with a skeptical statement and asked for a meeting with the nominee.

Why is Garland a good choice for the Justice Department?

Defenders of Garland argued he would be a particularly strong choice to lead the Justice Department in the post-Trump era because he is seen as above reproach of partisan politics. Some allies describe him as a “Boy Scout,” which is intended to suggest he would be seen as a non-political figure.

When will Biden be appointed Attorney General?

The announcement of the attorney general, along with other senior leaders of the Justice Department, is expected to be made as soon as Thursday as Biden moves closer to filling the remaining seats in his Cabinet before assuming power on January 20.

Who was the attorney general that Biden chose?

Garland was chosen by Biden for attorney general over former Alabama Sen. Doug Jones and former acting attorney general Sally Yates, the two other finalists for the position.

Is Garland a top contender?

While Garland has been a top contender for weeks, concerns about the vacancy his selection would create on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia raised alarm bells among Biden and many advisers who believed Senate Republicans would block any nomination to that seat. But with Democrats poised to control the Senate after two Georgia runoff races, those concerns were allayed.

When is Nancy Pelosi's press briefing?

US Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California, speaks at her weekly press briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on July 22, 2021. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters with Vice President Mike Pence in ...

Who was the deputy attorney general in the Oklahoma City bombing?

Prior to his appointment as a US circuit judge, Garland served as principal associate deputy attorney general. He supervised the investigation of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, which killed more than 160 people and injured several hundred more. Garland also led the investigations of the 1996 Olympics bombing in Atlanta, in which two people died and more than 100 others were injured.

What is a triplex in state government?

A state government triplex describes when one political party holds the following three positions in a state's government: governor, attorney general, and secretary of state.

How many attorneys generals did the Republican Party win in 2010?

In the 2010 midterm elections, the Republican Party gained a lead in elected attorney general offices, with 22 elected attorneys general to the Democrats' 21. The Democratic victory in the 2013 Virginia election for attorney general caused the party to briefly regain a 22-21 majority of elected attorney general offices.

What states have triplex elections?

Triplexes. New Jersey and Virginia are holding elections for one or more triplex offices in 2021. A state government triplex occurs when the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state in a given state are all members of the same political party.

How many states have a term limit for an attorney general?

The attorney general has the power to represent the state in criminal appeals in 46 states, although this power is restricted in five of those states. A total of 17 states impose some form of term limits on attorneys general.

What is the attorney general's job in Virginia in 2021?

2022 →. There is one attorney general seat on the ballot in 2021. This election is in Virginia . As the state's chief legal officer, the attorney general is responsible for enforcing state law and advising the state government on legal matters.

How many states will have an attorney general election in 2022?

In 2022, thirty states will be holding attorney general elections. Click here to read more about state attorney general elections in 2022.

What is the job of the Attorney General?

The attorney general is an executive office in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., that serves as the chief legal advisor and chief law enforcement officer for the state government and is empowered to prosecute violations of state law, represent the state in legal disputes and issue legal advice to state agencies and the legislature.

What is the resultant method of electing the President and Vice President?

The resultant method of electing the president and vice president, spelled out in Article II, Section 1, Clause 3, allocated to each state a number of electors equal to the combined total of its Senate and House of Representatives membership.

How many presidential elections were held in 1956?

Of the 13 presidential elections from 1956 to 2004, nine featured the incumbent president and the other four featured the incumbent vice president as a presidential candidate: 1960 (Richard Nixon); 1968 ( Hubert Humphrey ); 1988 (George H. W. Bush); 2000 (Al Gore).

What is the VPOTUS?

www.whitehouse.gov. The vice president of the United States ( VPOTUS) is the second-highest officer in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The vice president is also an officer in the legislative branch, as the president of the Senate.

How long is the term of the Vice President?

The vice president is indirectly elected together with the president to a four-year term of office by the people of the United States through the Electoral College. The modern vice presidency is a position of significant power and is widely seen as an integral part of a president's administration.

What is the second highest office in the US?

For a list of officeholders, see List of vice presidents of the United States. The vice president of the United States ( VPOTUS) is the second-highest officer in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession.

Why is the Vice President important?

The vice president is often an important liaison between the administration and Congress, especially in situations where the president has not previously served in Congress or served only briefly. Vice presidents are often selected as running mates in part due to their legislative relationships, notably including Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, Walter Mondale, Dick Cheney, Joe Biden, and Mike Pence among others. In recent years, Dick Cheney held weekly meetings in the Vice President's Room at the United States Capitol, Joe Biden played a key role in bipartisan budget negotiations, and Mike Pence often met with House and Senate Republicans. Kamala Harris, the current Vice President, presides over a 50–50 split Senate, potentially providing her with a key role in passing bills.

When was the Vice President's Office created?

The Office was created in the Reorganization Act of 1939, which included an "office of the Vice President" under the Executive Office of the President. Salary for the staff is provided by both legislative and executive branch appropriations, in light of the vice president's roles in each branch.

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Overview

History

Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1789 which, among other things, established the Office of the Attorney General. The original duties of this officer were "to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court in which the United States shall be concerned, and to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law when required by the president of the United States, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments". Some of these duties have since been transferred to the U…

Presidential transition

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. The deputy attorney general is also expected to tender a resignation, but is commonly requested to stay on and act as the attorney general pending the confirmation by the Senate of the new attorney general.

Line of succession

U.S.C. Title 28, §508 establishes the first two positions in the line of succession, while allowing the attorney general to designate other high-ranking officers of the Department of Justice as subsequent successors. Furthermore, an Executive Order defines subsequent positions, the most recent from March 31, 2017, signed by President Donald Trump. The current line of succession is:
1. United States Deputy Attorney General

See also

• Executive Order 13787 for "Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Justice"