California Attorney General
| Attorney General of California | |
|---|---|
Seal of the Attorney General of California
|
|
| Department of Justice | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Term length | Four years, two term limit |
| Inaugural holder | Edward J. C. Kewen 1849 |
| Formation | California Constitution |
| Salary | $151,127 |
| Website | Office of the Attorney General |
The California Attorney General is the State Attorney General of California. The officer's duty is to ensure that "the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced" (California Constitution, Article V, Section 13.) The Attorney General carries out the responsibilities of the office through the California Department of Justice. The Department employs over 1,100 attorneys (meaning that the AG supervises the governmental equivalent of a law firm much larger than the vast majority of U.S. private law firms) and 3,700 non-attorney employees.
The Attorney General is elected to a four-year term, with a maximum of two terms. The election is held at the same statewide election as the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Controller, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Insurance Commissioner. The current Attorney General is Kamala Harris, a former San Francisco District Attorney, who has made mortgage relief a significant priority.
Contents
Duties
According to the state Constitution and the California Government Code, the Attorney General:
- As the state’s chief law officer, ensures that the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced.[1]
- Heads the Department of Justice, which is responsible for providing state legal services and support for local law enforcement.[2]
- Acts as the chief counsel in state litigation.
- Oversees law enforcement agencies, including District Attorneys and Sheriffs.[1]
Notable attorneys general from California
For a comprehensive list, see List of Attorneys General of California.
- Ulysses S. Webb – Longest serving at 37 years
- Earl Warren – Chief Justice of the United States, Governor of California
- Pat Brown – Governor of California
- Stanley Mosk – Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
- Dan Lungren – Congressman
- George Deukmejian – Governor of California
- Jerry Brown – California Secretary of State (1971–1975), Governor of California (1975–1983; 2011–present) Mayor, Oakland California (1999–2007)
See also
References
External links
- California Attorney General official website
- California Attorney General articles at Legal Newsline Legal Journal
- California Attorney General articles at ABA Journal
- News and Commentary at FindLaw
|
Attorneys General of California
|
||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
 California statewide elected officials |
|
|---|---|
