Attorney General of Delaware
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Attorney General of Delaware is an elected four-year executive branch office, the holder of which is the head of the Department of Justice for the state. The office existed in various forms prior to the ratification of the State Constitution of 1776 which carried on an existing colonial tradition granting the Governor the power to appoint the Attorney General for a five-year tenure. At the ratification of the State Constitution of 1897 the post was converted to its present four-year elected form, also establishing the Attorney General as third in line of succession from the Governor after the Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State.
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[edit] Office Holders and Elections
Gunning Bedford, Jr. was the first holder of the office (1778–1790) during Delaware's transition to statehood. The office is currently held by Carl Danberg (2005–present), who was appointed upon the resignation of the prior office holder, M. Jane Brady (1995–2005). Carl Danberg chose not seek re-election upon expiry of his term in January 2007 and Beau Biden (Joseph R. Biden III) was elected to succeed him.
[edit] Historical listing of office holders
- Beau Biden 2007–
- Carl Danberg 2005–Present
- M. Jane Brady 1995–2005
- Charles M. Oberly, III 1983–1995
- Richard S. Gebelein 1979–1983
- Richard R. Wier, Jr. 1975–1979
- W. Laird Stabler, Jr. 1971–1975
- David P. Buckson 1963–1971
- Januar D. Bove, Jr. 1959–1963
- Joseph Donald Craven 1955–1959
- H. Albert Young 1951–1955
- Albert W. James 1947–1951
- Clair J. Killoran 1943–1947
- James R. Morford 1939–1943
- P. Warren Green 1933–1939
- Daniel J. Layton 1933
- Reuben Satterthwaite, Jr. 1929–1933
- Clarence A. Southerland 1925–1929
- Sylvester D. Townsend, Jr. 1921–1925
- David J. Reinhardt 1917–1921
- Josiah O. Wolcott 1914–1917
- Andrew C. Gray 1909–1913
- Robert H. Richards 1905–1909
- Herbert H. Ward 1901–1905
- Robert C. White 1895–1901
- John R. Nicholson 1892–1895
- John Biggs 1887–1892
- John H. Paynter 1885–1887
- George Gray 1879–1885
- John B. Penington 1874–1879
- Charles B. Lore 1869–1874
- Jacob Moore 1864–1869
- Afred Wooten 1860–1864
- George P. Fisher 1855–1860
- Willard Saulsbury, Sr. 1850–1855
- Edward W. Gilpin 1840–1850
- James Rogers 1835–1840
- Robert Frame 1830–1835
- James Rogers 1815–1830
- Thomas Clayton 1810–1815
- Outerbridge Horsey 1806–1810
- Nicholas Vandyke 1801–1806
- Nicholas Ridgely 1790–1801
- Gunning Bedford, Jr. 1778–1790
[edit] References
- History of the Attorney General. Office of the Attorney General, State of Delaware (December 2005). Retrieved on 2006-10-31.
- Article III Executive. Delaware Constitution of 1897. State of Delaware. Retrieved on 2006-10-31.
- 2006 General Election Candidates. Department of Elections for New Castle County, State of Delaware (October 2006). Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
- Past Attorney Generals. Office of the Attorney General, State of Delaware (December 2005). Retrieved on 2006-10-31.
