Attorney General’s Role and Current Status in the US
The Attorney General oversees and directs the Department of Justice. They also offer advice and opinions to President, as well as heads of executive departments and agencies on legal matters.
Attorney General represents the United States in cases that are especially consequential or severe; when necessary, they appear before the Supreme Court directly in these instances.
The role of the attorney general
State attorneys general (AGs) are law enforcement officials tasked with upholding their state constitutions and laws. Their duties can range from handling consumer complaints, investigating predatory lenders, and prosecuting firms that violate environmental or antitrust regulations to reforming criminal justice systems and addressing other important national issues.
In the United States, attorney generals (AGs) are members of the Cabinet who are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Most states and territories elect an AG by popular vote and they serve as public advocates both state and federally by engaging in regulatory proceedings, offering legal opinions, launching investigations, proposing legislation, testifying at hearings, sueing federal or state agencies when out-of-bounds behavior is present and filing legal cases when appropriate. AGs use their diverse toolbox of legal skills and strategies to effectively represent public interests when representing public interests on both levels of government.
The role of the solicitor general
The solicitor general serves two major purposes. First, he oversees government’s appellate jurisdiction; any division within Justice Department that loses in federal court can appeal only with permission from him to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court may ask the solicitor general for his opinion on a legal issue in cases in which it is not involved – known as “calling for the views of the solicitor general”. When requested to do so, their views are usually presented in an amicus curiae brief filed by them on behalf of the government.
His office also assists with filing petitions for rehearing en banc, which require approval by all Supreme Court Justices. As such, they account for more than half of all en banc petitions filed before the court; Attorney General Prelogar joins a distinguished roster of Harvard Law School alumni in holding this post, including former Justice Elena Kagan.
The role of the state attorney general
State attorneys general (AGs) have become key figures in American jurisprudence, using their special criminal and civil enforcement powers to shape America’s legal landscape. AGs make an impactful contribution across numerous legal fields including consumer protection, antitrust, civil rights, education, labor law, immigration and political corruption in their individual states.
They provide legal advice that impacts state government operations daily and act collectively on matters of national significance such as opioid epidemic and price gouging during times of crises.
The AGs and their staffs conduct investigations and prosecutions for various state crimes, such as cybercrimes, gang activity, child pornography, fraud against taxpayers and violations of environmental laws. They defend criminal convictions on appeal as well as represent the state in lawsuits filed by private citizens. Furthermore, they can file comments with federal agencies regarding proposed rules and regulations as well as propose legislation or issue formal opinions for actions taken by them or against them.
The role of the federal attorney general
The United States Attorney General is the nation’s highest law enforcement official, nominated and confirmed by both President and Senate. They oversee the Department of Justice and its component agencies; currently Eric Holder from Harvard Law School who has spoken out against both Defense of Marriage Act and Fast and Furious scandal has held this role.
At the state level, attorneys general play an essential role in advocating and protecting legal rights of their constituents. Their responsibilities range from working with legislatures, consumer protection and antitrust enforcement to criminal justice and protecting constitutional rights.
The Office of the State Attorney General brings civil suits on behalf of state agencies and officials in order to recover delinquent loans and accounts, overpayments in salaries or program overpayments and liens; enforce licensing tax laws and environmental protection rules; defend challenges to their validity as well as fight wrongful convictions on behalf of victims in state agencies or officials; as well as defend challenges to validity or fight wrong convictions on their behalf.
