State attorney general

The state attorney general in each of the 50 U.S. states and territories is the chief legal advisor to the state government and the state's chief law enforcement officer. In some states, the attorney general serves as the head of a state department of justice, with responsibilities similar to those of the United States Department of Justice. Attorney generals are elected statewide in 43 states;[1] five are appointed by their state's governor, one by the legislature (Maine), and one by supreme court (Tennessee). The top legal officer of Washington, D.C., also holds the title of attorney general.

The longest-serving state attorney general in U.S. history was Frank J. Kelley (born in 1924) of the state of Michigan. His 37-year term of office, from 1961 to 1998, made him both the youngest (36 years old) and oldest (74 years old) attorney general in the state's history, and led to his nickname as the "Eternal General".

The current party composition of the state Attorneys General are:

The composition for territories and districts are:

List

List of attorneys general by U.S. states:

Current Attorney General State Party Assumed office Term expires Law School
Luther Strange Alabama Rep 2011 2015 Tulane University
John Burns Alaska Rep 2010 Appointed by Governor Seattle University
Tom Horne Arizona Rep 2011 2015 Harvard University
Dustin McDaniel Arkansas Dem 2007 2015 University of Arkansas
Kamala Harris California Dem 2011 2015 University of California, Hastings
John Suthers Colorado Rep 2005 2015 University of Colorado
George Jepsen Connecticut Dem 2011 2015 Harvard University
Beau Biden Delaware Dem 2007 2015 Syracuse University
Pam Bondi Florida Rep 2011 2015 Stetson University
Sam Olens Georgia Rep 2011 2015 Emory University
David M. Louie Hawaii Dem 2010 Appointed by Governor UC Berkeley
Lawrence Wasden Idaho Rep 2003 2015 University of Idaho
Lisa Madigan Illinois Dem 2003 2015 Loyola University Chicago
Greg Zoeller Indiana Rep 2009 2013 Indiana University
Thomas John Miller Iowa Dem 1995 2015 Harvard University
Derek Schmidt Kansas Rep 2011 2015 Georgetown University
Jack Conway Kentucky Dem 2007 2016 George Washington University
Buddy Caldwell Louisiana Rep 2007 2011 Tulane University
William Schneider Maine Rep 2011 Elected by the Legislature Suffolk University
Doug Gansler Maryland Dem 2007 2015 University of Virginia
Martha Coakley Massachusetts Dem 2007 2015 Boston University
Bill Schuette Michigan Rep 2011 2015 University of San Francisco
Lori Swanson Minnesota DFL 2007 2015 William Mitchell College
Jim Hood Mississippi Dem 2003 2011 University of Mississippi
Chris Koster Missouri Dem 2009 2013 University of Missouri
Steve Bullock Montana Dem 2009 2013 Columbia University
Jon Bruning Nebraska Rep 2002 2015 University of Nebraska
Catherine Cortez Masto Nevada Dem 2007 2015 Gonzaga University
Michael Delaney New Hampshire Dem 2009 2011 (Appointed by Governor) Georgetown University
Paula Dow New Jersey Dem 2010 Appointed by Governor University of Pennsylvania
Gary King New Mexico Dem 2007 2015 University of New Mexico
Eric Schneiderman New York Dem 2011 2015 Harvard University
Roy A. Cooper North Carolina Dem 2001 2012 University of North Carolina
Wayne Stenehjem North Dakota Rep 2001 2015 University of North Dakota
Mike DeWine Ohio Rep 2011 2015 Ohio Northern University
Scott Pruitt Oklahoma Rep 2011 2015 University of Tulsa
John Kroger Oregon Dem 2009 2013 Harvard University
Linda L. Kelly Pennsylvania Rep 2011 2015 Duquesne University
Peter Kilmartin Rhode Island Dem 2011 2015 Roger Williams University
Alan Wilson South Carolina Rep 2011 2015 University of South Carolina
Marty Jackley South Dakota Rep 2009 2015 University of South Dakota
Robert E. Cooper, Jr. Tennessee Dem 2006 2014 (appointed by TN Supreme Court) Yale University
Greg Abbott Texas Rep 2002 2015 Vanderbilt University
Mark Shurtleff Utah Rep 2001 2012 University of San Diego
William Sorrell Vermont Dem 1997 2015 Cornell University
Ken Cuccinelli Virginia Rep 2010 2014 George Mason University
Rob McKenna Washington Rep 2005 2012 University of Chicago
Darrell McGraw West Virginia Dem 1993 2012 West Virginia University
J. B. Van Hollen Wisconsin Rep 2007 2015 University of Wisconsin
Gregory A. Phillips Wyoming Rep 2011 Appointed by Governor University of Wyoming
Current Attorney General Territory Party Took office Term expires Law School
Afa Ripley, Jr. American Samoa Democratic 2007 Appointed by Governor California Western University
Irvin B. Nathan District of Columbia Democratic 2011 Appointed by Mayor Columbia University
Leonardo Rapadas Guam Nonpartisan 2011 2015 Willamette University
Edward T. Buckingham Northern Marianas Islands Covenant 2009 Appointed by Governor University of Denver
Guillermo Somoza Puerto Rico New Progressive 2010 Appointed by Governor Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
Vincent Frazer Virgin Islands Democratic 2006 Appointed by Governor Howard University

References

  1. ^ Shure, Jon (10 September 2004). "The People Should Choose Who Fills the Shoes". New Jersey Policy Perspective. http://www.njpp.org/rpt_lg.html. Retrieved 8 September 2011. 

External links

State attorneys general in the United States
   

VT: William Sorrell
VA: Ken Cuccinelli
WA: Rob McKenna
WV: Darrell McGraw
WI: J. B. Van Hollen
WY: Greg Phillips

Non-state Territories of the United States

AS: Afa Ripley, Jr.
DC: Irvin B. Nathan
GU: Leonardo Rapadas
NMI: Edward Buckingham
PR: Guillermo Somoza
VI: Vincent Frazer