The attorney general provides legal advice to the President and heads of cabinet departments. Additionally, they make recommendations regarding appointments to federal judicial positions as well as Department of Justice roles such as U.S. Attorneys and US Marshals.
The attorney general directs all prosecutions brought by 93 federal prosecutors located throughout America who work together to enforce federal laws. When cases of exceptional importance arise, she appears herself before the Supreme Court for consideration of decisions made in these prosecutions.
Duty to Represent
In common law jurisdictions, an attorney general (also referred to as “law-officer general” or an “advocaat-generaal”) serves as the chief legal officer for his or her jurisdiction. Attorneys-general provide advice and representation of public interests.
In York County, Attorney General Sunday handles cases involving illegal gun usage and possession in state court; forges partnerships between healthcare systems to combat opioid use disorder; leads the county’s efforts against elder fraud scams; oversees statewide prosecutions including Medicaid fraud cases as well as civil litigation.
At a federal level, the United States Attorney General serves as chief legal advisor and is seventh in line for succession to the presidency. While they head up the Department of Justice as head of this office, attorneys-general in all 50 states and territories (as well as some territorial entities and foreign governments) elected by their constituents carry similar responsibilities under parens patriae law and possess investigative and enforcement powers under parens patriae legal principles.
Duty to Advise
Attorneys general, or their equivalent (known in some countries as ministers of justice), act as chief legal advisers for governments. They provide legal advice to statutory officers, advise on appointments to judicial posts and positions within the Department of Justice, monitor work of other statutory officers to ensure compliance with ethical standards and codes of conduct; responding to complaints received through ombudsmen and developing training programmes on law and ethics.
Duty to Prosecute
The attorney general serves as the principal prosecuting authority in the United States and has the legal power to conduct litigation involving Government departments or agencies as parties, similar to being considered Minister of Justice by some countries.
Attorney General Harris oversees an array of civil and criminal matters, such as enforcement of health, safety, consumer and environmental regulations; collection of court-ordered child support payments; administration of crime victim compensation programs and investigations into public corruption. She has appointed public integrity officers who provide New Yorkers a confidential way of reporting government misconduct without fear of retaliation from local politicians or retaliation by the government.
Civil Division issues are overseen by the Deputy Attorney General and team of senior supervisory attorneys who decide which cases to pursue. Attorney General Harris and her staff review all suits that affect her office and ensure that DOJ adequately communicates its positions on them with client agencies.