who was the first attorney general of illinois

by Margret Bashirian 7 min read

Daniel Pope Cook

Who was the original Attorney General?

Edmund Jennings RandolphThe Judiciary Act of 1789 establishes the Office of the Attorney General. The Judiciary Act of 1789 established the Office of the Attorney General. On September 26, 1789, Edmund Jennings Randolph was appointed the first Attorney General of the United States by President George Washington.

Who is Attorney General of Illinois?

Kwame Raoul (Democratic Party)Illinois / Attorney generalKwame Raoul is an American lawyer and politician who has been the 42nd Attorney General of Illinois since 2019. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Raoul represented the 13th district in the Illinois Senate from 2004 to 2019. Wikipedia

How many attorney generals are in Illinois?

42List of attorneys general#NameTerm39Roland W. Burris1991–199540Jim Ryan1995–200341Lisa Madigan2003–201942Kwame Raoul2019–present39 more rows

How much does the Attorney General of Illinois make?

$72,653 a yearAs of May 31, 2022, the average annual pay for an Attorney General in Illinois is $72,653 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $34.93 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,397/week or $6,054/month.

What is the role of Illinois Attorney General?

The Attorney General is the state's chief legal officer and is responsible for protecting the public interest of the state and its people. Litigate to ensure state and federal laws are followed and respected. The Attorney General provides services that cover a broad range of issues, reaching every corner of Illinois.

How many counties are in Illinois?

102 countiesThere are 102 counties in Illinois.

What's the difference between attorney and lawyer?

Attorney vs Lawyer: Comparing Definitions Lawyers are people who have gone to law school and often may have taken and passed the bar exam. Attorney has French origins, and stems from a word meaning to act on the behalf of others. The term attorney is an abbreviated form of the formal title 'attorney at law'.

Who is the Attorney General in Chicago?

Attorney General Kwame RaoulAttorney General Kwame Raoul (Democrat) was sworn in as the 42nd Attorney General of Illinois in January 2019. Born in Chicago to Haitian immigrants, Raoul brings a lifetime of legal and policy experience, advocacy and public service to the Office of the Attorney General.

Who was the Attorney General in the 1980s?

25, 1985 – August 12, 1988: Edwin Meese, a Republican from California, was appointed U.S. attorney general by President Ronald Reagan.

What's the salary of the governor of Illinois?

Governor of IllinoisTerm lengthFour years, no term limitsInaugural holderShadrach BondFormationOctober 6, 1818Salary$177,412 (2015)^α ^β4 more rows

How many assistant attorney generals are there in Illinois?

450 Assistant Attorneys GeneralMore than 450 Assistant Attorneys General and over 300 employees serve in the Office of the Attorney General in offices in Chicago, Springfield and Carbondale as well as regional offices in Rockford, Quincy, Champaign-Urbana and Belleville.

How much does the Secretary of State in IL make?

$156,541State executive salariesOffice and current officialSalaryIllinois Secretary of State Jesse White$156,541Illinois Superintendent of Education Carmen AyalaIllinois Director of Natural Resources Colleen CallahanChief of Staff to the Governor of Illinois Anne Caprara5 more rows

What is the job of the Illinois Attorney General?

Based in Chicago and Springfield, Illinois, the Attorney General is responsible for providing legal counsel for the various state agencies including the Governor of Illinois and Illinois General Assembly, and conducting all legal affairs pertaining to the state.

What is the role of the Attorney General of Illinois?

Role. Under the Constitution of Illinois, the Attorney General is the state's chief legal officer, and has the powers and duties prescribed by law. The Attorney General's duties include advocating for the people of Illinois, working with the General Assembly to push for new legislation, and litigating to ensure that state laws are followed.

When was the Illinois Attorney General established?

The office of the Illinois Attorney General was established on December 3, 1818 based on guidelines adopted by a state constitutional convention. The Attorney General is second (behind the Lieutenant Governor) in the line of succession to the office of Governor of Illinois.

Who was the first person to serve in Cook County?

The first person to fulfill the duties of the office was Daniel Pope Cook who only served eleven days, and was later elected to the United States Congress. Cook County was named in his honor. The current holder of the office is Kwame Raoul .

Who oversees the Public Access Counselor?

The Attorney General also oversees the Public Access Counselor, which is responsible for enforcing the state's Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act .

How are Illinois executive salaries determined?

The salaries of elected executives in Illinois are determined by the Illinois State Legislature as mandated in the state constitution. Article V, Section 21 of the Illinois Constitution also notes that executives cannot receive additional compensation beyond their salaries nor can their salaries be changed during current terms:

What happens if the Illinois Attorney General becomes vacant?

If the attorney general's office becomes vacant, the governor will appoint a replacement to serve until a successor is duly elected.

How many divisions are there in the Illinois Attorney General's Office?

As of January 7, 2021, the Illinois Attorney General's Office has 11 division areas of service:

What is the highest office in Illinois?

The Attorney General of Illinois is the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois. Originally an appointed office, it is now an office filled by election through universal suffrage. Based in Chicago and Springfield, he or she is responsible for providing legal counsel for the various state agencies including the Governor of Illinois and Illinois General Assembly. He or she also conducts all legal affairs pertaining to the state.

How much does the Attorney General make in 2020?

In 2020, the attorney general received a salary of $160,800, according to the Council of State Governments.

What is the job of the Attorney General?

The attorney general serves as the state's chief legal officer and the office provides a broad range of services including consumer protection, community engagement and outreach, victim assistance, public health and safety, and other services.

Who won the Illinois Attorney General election?

Kwame Raoul defeated Erika Harold and Bubba Harsy in the general election for Attorney General of Illinois on November 6, 2018.

What is the role of Attorney General Raoul?

Attorney General Raoul also has prioritized partnerships with attorneys general and advocacy groups across the country to strengthen enforcement actions that have implications beyond any one state’s borders. Raoul’s office has engaged in multistate efforts to defend access to quality health care for all, to protect our natural resources from rollbacks of environmental protections, and to fight for immigration policies that do not separate children from their families.

How long was Attorney General Raoul in office?

Before he was elected as Attorney General in November 2018, Attorney General Raoul spent 14 years serving as a state senator representing the 13th legislative district.

How has Attorney General Raoul improved the Crime Victims Compensation Program?

In the first two years of his administration, Attorney General Raoul has improved Illinois’ Crime Victims Compensation Program by ensuring that the process is trauma-informed, implementing efficiencies in the application process, and increasing awareness of the program through outreach to communities across the state that are affected by violence. He also increased the funding for grants under the Violent Crime Victims Assistance Program, which provides financial support to government and nonprofit social service agencies throughout Illinois that offer services to victims and witnesses of violent crime.

What does Raoul do?

Raoul has fostered law enforcement partnerships to engage in joint enforcement efforts to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals, participate in threat assessment trainings for law enforcement and school personnel, and uphold the integrity of public offices across the state.

Who is the Attorney General of Illinois?

ATTORNEY GENERAL KWAME RAOUL. Attorney General Kwame Raoul (Democrat) was sworn in as the 42nd Attorney General of Illinois in January 2019. Born in Chicago to Haitian immigrants, Raoul brings a lifetime of legal and policy experience, advocacy and public service to the Office of the Attorney General. As the state’s chief legal and law enforcement ...

image

Current Officeholder

Image
The current attorney general is Democrat Kwame Raoul. Raoul was first elected to the office in 2018 and was sworn in January 14, 2019. Raoul previously represented District 13 in the Illinois State Senatefrom 2004 to 2019.
See more on ballotpedia.org

Authority

  • The attorney general's office is authorized by Article V, Section 1 of the Illinois Constitution. Article V, Section 1
See more on ballotpedia.org

Qualifications

  • To be eligible to hold the office of attorney general, a person must be: 1. 1.1. a United States citizen, at least 25 years old 1.2. an Illinois resident for the three years preceding his or her election (Illinois Constitution, Article V § 3) Note: These standard qualifications apply to all of Illinois' constitutional executive offices, including governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general…
See more on ballotpedia.org

Elections

  • Under Article V, Section 2 of the state constitution, the attorney general shall hold office for four years beginning on the second Monday of January after their election and until their successors are qualified. They shall be elected at the general election in 1978 and every four years thereafter.
See more on ballotpedia.org

Vacancies

  • Article V, Section 7 of the Illinois Constitutionaddresses vacancies in the office of attorney general. If the attorney general's office becomes vacant, the governor will appoint a replacement to serve until a successor is duly elected.
See more on ballotpedia.org

Duties

  • As per the Illinois Constitution, "the attorney general shall be the legal officer of the State, and shall have the duties and powers that may be prescribed by law."(Illinois Constitution, Article V § 15) The attorney general serves as the state's chief legal officer and the office provides a broad range of services including consumer protection, community engagement and outreach, victim …
See more on ballotpedia.org

Divisions

  • As of January 7, 2021, the Illinois Attorney General's Office has 11 division areas of service: 1. Protecting Consumers 2. Advocating for Women 3. Keeping Communities Safe 4. Advocating for Older Citizens 5. Safeguarding Children 6. Defending Your Rights 7. Preserving the Environment 8. Helping Crime Victims 9. Enduring Open and Honest Government 10. Building Better Charities 1…
See more on ballotpedia.org

Recent News

  • The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Illinois Attorney General.These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See more on ballotpedia.org

Contact Info

  • Capitol Address: Office of Attorney General 100 West Randolph Street Chicago, IL 60601 Phone: (312) 814-3000 Toll Free Phone:(800) 964-3013
See more on ballotpedia.org

See Also