National Association of Attorneys General

National Association of Attorneys General
Name	National Association of Attorneys General
Abbreviation	NAAG
Formation	1907
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Region served	United States
Membership	State attorneys general, territorial attorneys general, district attorneys general

National Association of Attorneys General is a professional association representing the chief legal officers of the fifty United States states, the District of Columbia, and United States territories. Founded in the early 20th century, the organization facilitates coordination among members on litigation, consumer protection, antitrust, and public safety matters involving federal, state, and private actors such as United States Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, and multinational corporations like Microsoft, Google, and Johnson & Johnson. The association convenes officials from offices such as those of California Attorney General, New York Attorney General, Texas Attorney General, and Florida Attorney General for collective action, amicus briefs, and policy development.

History

The organization was established in 1907 during a period of Progressive Era reform alongside institutions like the National Civic Federation and the Interstate Commerce Commission. Early cooperation paralleled litigation involving the Standard Oil Company and regulatory disputes with the United States Supreme Court. Throughout the 20th century the association coordinated responses to landmark matters such as antitrust actions against AT&T, tobacco litigation connected to United States v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., and consumer protection efforts against Enron and WorldCom. In the 1990s and 2000s the association expanded engagement on issues related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, financial crises tied to Lehman Brothers, and technology-sector matters involving Apple Inc., Facebook, and Amazon (company).

Organization and Membership

Membership consists of elected and appointed attorneys general from the fifty United States states, the District of Columbia Attorney General, and attorneys general from territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands. Affiliates include deputies, bureau chiefs, and staff from offices like the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General (New York), and the Office of the Attorney General of Texas. The association interacts with federal entities including the United States Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and multilateral bodies such as the United Nations on international enforcement cooperation.

Governance and Leadership

Governance is by a board composed of elected attorneys general, with a rotating presidency often held by officials from states like Massachusetts Attorney General, Ohio Attorney General, and Michigan Attorney General. Executive functions are managed by a chief executive or executive director supported by staff in Washington, D.C., and committees mirroring those in offices such as the Missouri Attorney General's antitrust division and the Georgia Attorney General's consumer protection unit. Leadership interacts with judicial institutions including the United States Supreme Court and appellate courts during coordinated litigation and files amicus briefs in cases like those involving Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. and Brown v. Board of Education-era precedents when relevant.

Programs and Initiatives

The association runs programs on consumer protection, antitrust enforcement, data privacy, and opioid litigation in coordination with state offices and partners including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services, and nonprofit organizations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Initiatives have targeted corporate conduct by entities like Purdue Pharma, Takata Corporation, and Monsanto and supported multistate settlements comparable to those resolving cases with Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement-era defendants. Training arms work with academic institutions such as Georgetown University Law Center, Harvard Law School, and Columbia Law School to develop model statutes, enforcement protocols, and amicus strategies.

Advocacy and Policy Positions

The association issues policy statements and model legislation on matters including consumer privacy, antitrust, environmental enforcement, and civil rights. Positions have been taken in coordination with state attorneys general on federal statutes like the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Sherman Antitrust Act, and litigation under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The group has lobbied federal agencies including the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission on regulatory interpretations affecting members' authority, and has filed comments in rulemakings concerning entities such as AT&T and Verizon Communications.

Conferences and Training

Annual and regional meetings bring together attorneys general, deputy attorneys general, and counsel for panels featuring judges from circuits like the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, academics from institutions such as Stanford Law School and University of Chicago Law School, and representatives from agencies including the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Programming includes trial advocacy, forensic accounting seminars, and workshops on litigation strategies used in cases against corporations like Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo.

Controversies and Criticism

The association has faced scrutiny over collaboration with private law firms and corporations, raising concerns similar to debates involving the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement and the use of contingency-fee counsel in multistate litigation. Critics have compared practices to lobbying patterns seen around the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and questioned coordination with federal agencies such as the Department of Justice in matters involving public interest and separation of powers. Ethical questions have arisen in high-profile actions involving entities like Google and Facebook (now Meta Platforms), leading to audits, state-level inquiries, and litigation challenging settlement terms in state courts.

Category:Legal organizations based in the United States