Maine Attorney General
Attorney Generals serve as legal advisors for state government agencies and legislature, prosecute violations of state law and act as advocates for their constituents.
Congress established this position in 1789; it became the fourth Cabinet level position.
United States
At each state level, an attorney general (AG) serves as a legal adviser and chief law enforcement officer for their executive branch. Their Office litigates criminal and civil cases as well as policy matters covering various subjects; their Office also works closely with the federal Department of Justice on specific projects. AGs are appointed by their state legislatures or supreme courts with qualifications depending on which jurisdiction.
At their core, attorneys general share a professional bond: private practice experience. From Edmund Jennings Randolph in Alabama’s Russellville to Slade Gorton’s bicycle journey from coast-to-coast as the 71st AG (who took time off his duties to ride coast to coast! ), most AGs have prior private law practice experience. Furthermore, in recent years many AGs have taken up important policy issues of national significance, including reforming criminal justice systems or countering unscrupulous business practices that harm consumers – issues for which NAAG provides nonpartisan research, training, analysis to help state attorneys pursue these vital priorities successfully.
New York
As the representative for the public interest, the Attorney General serves to safeguard it by overseeing and leading statewide civil and criminal investigations. She enforces laws protecting consumers, tenants, patients, workers, investors and charitable donors; she promotes economic justice while advocating harm-reducers strategies; she uses cutting-edge impact litigation against monopolization schemes that drive up prescription drug prices; expose rogue internet service providers; empower whistleblowers against corporate fraud – among many other important duties.
Letitia “Tish” James, New York’s 67th Attorney General and first woman and person of color ever to hold this office, made history during her five-year term as Public Advocate by overseeing NYC government agencies and turning her office into a powerful agent of change. Under her watch as Public Advocate, NYC government agencies were overseen and transformed into powerful forces of reform with her Consumer Protection Bureau resolving hundreds of consumer complaints against predatory lenders while her Civil Rights Bureau advocated on behalf of vulnerable residents’ rights; her 13 regional offices provided for defensive, regulatory and affirmative justice functions all across New York state.
Maine
Maine is divided into 8 prosecutorial districts. In each of them is an elected district attorney who prosecutes nearly all crimes (except murders ) within its jurisdiction. They serve 4-year terms and must reside within their county they represent.
MILLER: Recently, some red states have sought to interfere with the lawful behavior of individuals who seek abortion or transgender treatments in other states. That prompted Maine to attempt passing what’s called a shield law to shield patients and providers from being investigated; that decision prompted 16 other state AGs from warning Maine they could sue if necessary.
Maine legal community supports multiple general bar associations covering small geographic areas. These general bar associations provide helpful practice tools and legal news updates for their members as well as educational seminars and networking opportunities. Anyone looking to join one can search online for membership information.
Tennessee
Attorney generals serve as legal advisers to state agencies and legislatures, representing their government in lawsuits, and upholding citizens’ rights. Most attorney generals identify priority law enforcement areas to which extra resources will be applied.
The Solicitor General oversees all appellate litigation in Tennessee’s Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and federal circuit courts of appeals. Their Strategic Litigation Unit handles affirmative litigation to safeguard separation of powers and defend Tennesseans’ constitutional rights.
The Civil Division provides representation for the State and its agencies in litigation pertaining to personal injury, tort cases, civil rights actions against state employees, workers’ compensation claims and workers’ rights issues. Additionally, our Environmental and Wildlife Division represents both DEC and TWRA when civil actions or enforcement matters arise; while our Financial Division represents state taxation issues including state taxesation issues related to banking regulation, economic development regulation or legal gambling.