Attorney General of Alabama

Attorney General of Alabama
Post	Attorney General
Body	Alabama
Insigniacaption	Seal of Alabama
Incumbent	Steve Marshall
Incumbentsince	February 10, 2017
Department	Alabama Attorney General's Office
Style	Mister or Madam Attorney General, (informal), The Honorable, (formal)
Termlength	Four years, no term limits
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Alabama
Formation	1819
First	Henry Hitchcock
Salary	$168,000 (2023)

Attorney General of Alabama. The Attorney General of Alabama is the chief law officer and state's attorney for the U.S. state of Alabama. The officeholder leads the Alabama Attorney General's Office, representing the state in legal matters, providing opinions to state agencies, and overseeing criminal appeals. Established by the Constitution of Alabama upon statehood, the position is elected statewide for a four-year term.

History

The office was created in 1819 when Alabama achieved statehood under the United States Congress. The first officeholder, Henry Hitchcock, was appointed by the governor before the position became an elected one. Throughout the 19th century, attorneys general were involved in pivotal issues like Reconstruction, Jim Crow laws, and legal disputes over rail transport. In the 20th century, the office gained prominence during the Civil Rights Movement, with attorneys general like Richmond Flowers Sr. and John Patterson taking opposing stances on desegregation and voting rights. The modern office has expanded significantly in size and scope since the late 1900s, handling complex litigation involving the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Justice, and multi-state lawsuits.

Powers and duties

Constitutional and statutory powers include acting as the chief legal advisor to the Governor of Alabama, the Alabama Legislature, and other state officers. The office represents the State of Alabama in all appeals before the Supreme Court of Alabama and the Supreme Court of the United States. Key duties involve issuing formal advisory opinions, prosecuting statewide criminal cases, enforcing consumer protection laws, and overseeing the activities of district attorneys. The attorney general also has authority over the Alabama Department of Corrections, administers the Victims Compensation Fund, and can initiate lawsuits against federal agencies or other states.

List of attorneys general

Since statehood, over fifty individuals have held the office. Notable historical figures include John A. Campbell, who later served on the Supreme Court of the United States, and Thomas Watts, who became Governor of Alabama. In the modern era, William J. Baxley prosecuted the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing case, while Jeff Sessions later became a United States Senator and United States Attorney General. The current officeholder, Steve Marshall, was appointed by Governor Robert J. Bentley following the resignation of Luther Strange, who was appointed to the United States Senate.

Election and tenure

The Attorney General is elected in a statewide general election during the same cycle as the Governor of Alabama. Terms are four years, commencing on the Monday after the second Tuesday in January following election. There are no term limits; officeholders like John Patterson and Bill Pryor have served multiple terms. Vacancies are filled by gubernatorial appointment, as occurred in 2017 with Steve Marshall. Candidates must be at least 25 years old, a United States citizen for at least seven years, and a resident of Alabama for at least five years preceding the election.

Office and organization

The Alabama Attorney General's Office is headquartered in the Alabama State House complex in Montgomery. It is organized into several major divisions, including the Criminal Appeals Division, the Civil Litigation Division, and the Consumer Protection Division. The office employs hundreds of assistant attorney generals, investigators, and support staff. It works closely with agencies like the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Alabama Department of Public Health, and the Alabama Securities Commission. The office also maintains a specialized Capital Litigation Division for death penalty cases and a Cybercrime Unit to combat internet fraud.

Notable cases and controversies

The office has been central to many high-profile legal battles. It defended the state's legislative redistricting plans before the Supreme Court of the United States in cases like *Alabama Legislative Black Caucus v. Alabama*. It prosecuted Eric Robert Rudolph for the Centennial Olympic Park bombing and pursued the Jimmy Lee Spencer capital murder case. Recent controversies include leading a multi-state lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act, defending the Alabama Human Life Protection Act before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and opposing Biden Administration policies on immigration and the Environmental Protection Agency. The office also played a key role in litigation against Purdue Pharma and other opioid manufacturers.

Category:Alabama state agencies Category:State law enforcement agencies of Alabama Category:Attorneys general of Alabama Category:Government of Alabama