why is the office of california attorney general considerd so powerful

by Lorena Littel 5 min read

What is the Office of the California Attorney General?

Question: Why is the office of California attorney general considered powerful? What if any power does the Governor of California have over the office of the attorney general? Why is the attorney general considered a political rival of the governor? Please …

How has the Office of the Attorney General changed over time?

In California, the Office of Attorney General was created in 1850 to contend with what was considered at the time an unstructured, inadequate and inconsistent system of law enforcement. Since its establishment, the Office of the Attorney General has been molded and changed by three distinct forces: first, the California Constitution and state government codes, which specify the …

What does the New York attorney general do?

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 …

What does the PA State Attorney General actually do?

The Attorney General's Office is committed to protecting the rights of all people. Recognizing that discrimination has no place in our society,The Attorney General's Office is fighting to protect transgender students and adults across the nation, and strictly enforcing the recently enacted California law that prohibits state-funded travel to states that discriminate against LGBTQ …

What is the purpose of the attorney general's position in power?

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 much power does the US Attorney General have?

As the chief officer of the Department of Justice, the attorney general enforces federal laws, provides legal counsel in federal cases, interprets the laws that govern executive departments, heads federal jails and penal institutions, and examines alleged violations of federal laws.

Why are opinions of the US Attorney General so persuasive?

“Opinions of the Attorney General, while not binding, are entitled to great weight. [Citations.] In the absence of controlling authority, these opinions are persuasive 'since the legislature is presumed to be cognizant of that construction of the statute.

What does Attorney General of California do?

The Attorney General of California is the chief law officer of California and the state's primary legal counsel. The attorney general "[sees] that the laws of the State are uniformly and adequately enforced" and prosecutes violations of state law through the California Department of Justice, which he or she oversees.

Who is the California state Attorney General?

General Rob BontaAttorney General Rob Bonta | State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General.

Who makes up the DOJ?

The department is composed of federal law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

What is a legal opinion letter?

A legal opinion is a formal letter from your company's corporate counsel to the investors containing counsel's conclusions about various legal matters relevant to the company and the transaction, based on counsel's review of a defined body of documents and information.

What is a legal opinion document?

Also called an opinion letter. An opinion from lawyers issued in letter form expressing legal conclusions about and/or legal analysis of a transaction or matter which is relied on by the addressee of the opinion.

How much does the attorney general of California 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

How many attorney generals are in California?

The department employs over 1,100 attorneys and 3,700 non-attorney employees. The California attorney general is elected to a four-year term, with a maximum of two terms....List of attorneys general of California.#34NameRob BontaTook office2021Left officePresentPartyDemocratic33 more columns

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.

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.

What is the Attorney General's Office?

The Attorney General's Office is committed to protecting the rights of all people. Recognizing that discrimination has no place in our society,The Attorney General's Office is fighting to protect transgender students and adults across the nation, and strictly enforcing the recently enacted California law that prohibits state-funded travel to states that discriminate against LGBTQ communities.

What is the Attorney General's Office's view on the economic security of working families?

The Attorney General's Office believes that the economic security of working families is crucial to the economic well-being of California and will fight to make sure that everyone in our state can benefit from economic growth and consumer protections.

How effective are law enforcement officers?

Law enforcement officers can only be effective if they are trusted by the communities they serve. Police agencies across the country now confront a crisis of confidence that not only complicates their dangerous work but also demands a meaningful response.

What is the Bureau of Children's Justice?

Bureau of Children's Justice. The Bureau’s mission is to protect the rights of children and focus the attention and resources of law enforcement and policymakers on the importance of safeguarding every child. View More.

What is sexual violence?

Sexual violence derives from unequal power relationships, and is one of the most common violations of people’s rights. The Attorney General's Office is committed to combatting sexual violence in all its forms.

What is the Attorney General's Office looking into?

In addition to investigating criminal operations, the attorney general’s office looks into scams targeting seniors, violations of the state’s clean air and water laws and evaluates whether mergers break antitrust laws. On April 26, voters in both parties will have a choice for attorney general. Do the voters prefer a candidate with political ...

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

To become attorney general, you have to be able to practice law in Pennsylvania, be at least 30 years old and have lived in Pennsylvania for the past seven years (exceptions for politicians and public employees). Of the five candidates, there are two politicians and three with extensive experience as prosecutors.

What is the Roe v Wade ruling?

This was the 1992 landmark abortion ruling that upheld the basic tenet of Roe v. Wade that a woman has the right to an abortion. It established a new “undue burden” test, which struck down part of the Pennsylvania law which required wives to notify their husbands before getting an abortion.

What is an example of public corruption?

An example of a prominent public corruption case the AG’s office was involved in was last year’s discovery that former Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed bought thousands of historical artifacts with millions of taxpayer dollars.

What does the Criminal Division do?

The criminal division investigates drug trafficking, child predators (more than 150 were arrested each of the past two years), organized crime and public corruption, according to the office’s 2015 annual report.

Who is the chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners?

Shapiro is the chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners and was appointed to be the chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency [PCCD] by Gov. Tom Wolf about a year ago.

Who is Joe Peters?

Republican candidate Joe Peters was a Scranton police officer, an organized crime and drug prosecutor in the attorney general's office for 15 years, a federal mafia prosecutor and oversaw a White House drug trafficking program. He most recently served as Kathleen Kane’s spokesman for about eight months in 2013 and 2014.

What is required before approving a request to amend a condition?

Before approving any request to amend a condition, the Attorney General is required to provide public notice of the proposed request for an amendment and information as to how a member of the public can request a public meeting.

What is the purpose of the Covia public meetings?

The purpose of the public meetings is to receive comments on the proposed Affiliation between Covia Group, Covia Communities, Covia Affordable Communities, the Covia Foundation and Front Porch Communities and Services.

What are the Covia communities?

The Attorney General is reviewing the proposed change in control and governance of Covia Group, Covia Communities, Covia Affordable Communities and Covia Foundation, each of which is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation. Covia Communities owns and operates five continuing care retirement communities, each with a skilled nursing facility. The Canterbury Woods is located in Pacific Grove and includes a 24 licensed-bed skilled nursing facility. St. Paul’s Towers is located in Oakland and includes a 43 licensed-bed skilled nursing facility. Spring Lake Village is located in Santa Rosa and includes a 70 licensed-bed skilled nursing facility. San Francisco Towers is located in San Francisco and includes a 55, licensed-bed skilled nursing facility. Webster House is located in Palo Alto and includes a 145 licensed-bed skilled nursing facility.

Where is the Oakland Public Library?

The California Attorney General will conduct a public meeting on November 21, 2019, beginning at 10:00 a.m., at Oakland Public Library Main Branch 125 14th Street, Oakland, CA 94612.

Is Altavita Village a nonprofit?

The Asset Purchase Agreement is between Air Force Village West, Inc. d/b/a Altavita Village and Senior Living Riverside, LP, a California limited partnership and an affiliate of Westmont Living, Inc., a California for-profit corporation. The proposed nonprofit transaction is being reviewed as required by Corporations Code sections 5914 et seq.

Does Verity Health System of California have a management agreement?

The Attorney General has received notice that Verity Health System of California, Inc. seeks to terminate its Health System Management Agreement with Integrity Healthcare, LLC and to directly retain and employ the same individuals currently providing management services. This notice is given pursuant to Condition II of the Attorney General's Decision dated December 3, 2015, conditionally consenting to the proposed change in governance and control of Daughters of Charity Ministry Services Corporation and Daughters of Charity Health System. The termination of the Health System Management Agreement requires 60 days' notice and approval by the Attorney General.

Is Reutlinger Community a nonprofit?

The Attorney General is reviewing the proposed change in control and governance of The Reutlinger Community, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation that owns and operates a continuing care retirement community that includes a 60 licensed-bed skilled nursing facility, located in Danville, CA. The Affiliation Agreement is between The Reutlinger Community and Eskaton, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation that owns and operates several skilled nursing facilities in Northern California. The proposed nonprofit transaction is being reviewed as required by Corporations Code sections 5920 et seq. The terms of the proposed transaction are set forth in the written notice to the Attorney General. The written notice is available online on The Reutlinger Community’s website at http://www.rcjl.org/written-notice-california-attorney-general

What does the local district attorney do when the police arrest someone?

When the police arrest someone and charge them with a crime in district court, the local District Attorney’s office has the power to prosecute those cases, divert the accused to a program or drug treatment, or dismiss the case altogether .

What is the role of a district attorney in Massachusetts?

District Attorneys are among the most powerful people in the criminal legal system in Massachusetts, and play a major role in determining the way criminal cases are initiated and ultimately resolved. They wield a substantial amount of power throughout the judicial process – from charging decisions to sentencing recommendations.

What is civil forfeiture?

Civil asset forfeiture is a way for prosecutors to seize property and money that law enforcement officers believe is connected to criminal activity. Here in Massachusetts, our standard for taking that money is very low, and the burden is on the owner of the property to prove it is not connected to criminal activity.

Can a judge order bail?

Here’s where the DAs come in: it is rare for a judge to order bail if the local District Attorney’s office has not made a request for bail. Despite the presumption of innocence, the court will oblige the prosecutor’s request and order people to be held unless bail is paid or other restrictions – like travel limitations –followed.

Can a DA revoke bail?

In addition to making the initial bail request, DAs can ask a judge to revoke a person’s bail and take them back into custody, even if they previously made bail. The DA’s office also has the responsibility of providing the evidence they will use to prosecute the case to the person charged.