The Puerto Rico Department of Justice, headed by the Attorney General, has been in existence, in one form or another since Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony. The current agency was created by the Constitution of Puerto Rico in 1952.
The Department, headquartered in a multi-story building in the Miramar sector of San Juan, includes a structure of District Attorneys to handle criminal caseload, as well as specialized divisions to handle antitrust cases, general civil cases, public integrity (corruption) and federal litigation, among others.
The Department's head, the Attorney General, is appointed by the Governor of Puerto Rico, and serves at his pleasure, after receiving the consent of the Senate of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's Solicitor General, which handles appellate work, is also appointed by the Governor and subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.