Attorney General of Georgia

Last updated
Attorney General of Georgia
Flag of the State of Georgia.svg
Christopher M. Carr.jpg
since November 1, 2016
TypeChief law enforcement officer
Term length 4 years
Formation1754
First holder William Clifton
Website law.ga.gov

The attorney general of Georgia is the attorney and legal advisor for the executive branch of the U.S. state of Georgia. They are responsible for providing opinions on legal questions concerning the state, prosecuting public corruption cases, overseeing contracts on behalf of the state, as well as representing the state in all civil cases, in all capital felony appeals, and in all cases appearing before the Supreme Court of the United States. They may also initiate civil or criminal actions on behalf of the State of Georgia when requested to do so by the governor. [1]

Contents

The officeholder is elected to a four-year term at the same time as elections are held for governor of Georgia and other offices.

The current attorney general of Georgia is Christopher M. Carr. Carr was appointed by Governor Nathan Deal following the resignation of Sam Olens, who was officially appointed to the office of president of Kennesaw State University on November 1, 2016. Carr completed Olens' unexpired term, which expired in January 2019. Carr was re-elected to a four-year term in Georgia's 2018 statewide elections and was reelected in the 2022 Georgia statewide elections.

List of attorneys general, 1754–present

[2]

Pre-statehood

#ImageNameTerm of service
1William Clifton1754–1764
2Charles Pryce1764–1776
3Williams Stephens1776–1780
4 Milledge.jpg John Milledge 1780–1781
5 Samuel Stirk 1781–1785
6 Nathaniel Pendleton 1785–1786
7 Matthew McAllister 1787–1788

Post-statehood

#ImageNameTerm of servicePolitical party
7 Matthew McAllister 1788–1791
8George Walker1792–1795
9 Davidbrydiemitchell.jpg David Brydie Mitchell 1796–1806 Democraticic-Republican
10Robert Walker1807–1808
11John Hamil1808
12 John Forsyth US Secretary of State.jpg John Forsyth 1808–1811Democratic-Republican
13Alexander M. Allen1811
14 RichardHenryWilde.jpg Richard H. Wilde 1811–1813Democratic-Republican
15Alexander M. Allen1813–1816
16Roger Lawson Gamble1816–1822
17Thomas F. Wells1822–1827
18 GeorgeWCrawford.jpg George W. Crawford 1827–1831 Whig
19 CharJenkins.jpg Charles Jones Jenkins 1831–1834Democratic
20Ebenezer Starnes1834–1840
21James Gardner1840–1843
22John J. R. Flournoy1843–1847
23Alpheus Colvard1847–1851
24 John Troup Shewmake 1851–1855
25William R. McLaws1855–1859
26Alpheus M. Rogers1859–1861
27Winder P. Johnson1861
28William Watts Montgomery1861–1865
29 George Thomas Barnes (1833-1901).png George T. Barnes 1865–1866Democratic
30John Philpot Curren Whitehead1866–1868
31Henry P. Farrow1868–1872Republican
32 Nathaniel Job Hammond (1833-1899).png Nathaniel Job Hammond 1872–1877Democratic
33Robert N. Ely1877–1880Democratic
34 Clifford Anderson.png Clifford Anderson 1880–1890Democratic
35 George N. Lester 1890–1891Democratic
36 Judge William A. Little.png William A. Little 1891–1892Democratic
37 JosephMTerrell.jpg Joseph M. Terrell 1892–1902Democratic
38 Boykin Wright.jpg Boykin Wright1902Democratic
39John C. Hart1902–1910Democratic
40Hewlett A. Hall1910–1911Democratic
41Thomas S. Felder1911–1914Democratic
42 Warren Grice.png Warren Grice1914–1915Democratic
43 GovernorCliffWalker (3x4).jpg Clifford Walker 1915–1920Democratic
44R. A. Denny1920–1921Democratic
45 George M Napier 1911-1912.jpg George M. Napier 1921–1932Democratic
46Lawrence S. Camp1932Democratic
47M. J. Yeomans1933–1939Democratic
48 Ellis Arnall cropped.png Ellis G. Arnall 1939–1943Democratic
49 T. Grady Head 1943–1945Democratic
50 Eugene Cook (Georgia judge).png Eugene Cook 1945–1965Democratic
51 Uncle Arthur.jpg Arthur K. Bolton 1965–1981Democratic
52 Mike Bowers.jpg Michael J. Bowers 1981–1997Democratic (1981–94)/Republican (1994–97)
53 Zell Miller and Thurbert Baker (cropped).jpg Thurbert E. Baker 1997–2011Democratic
54 Attorney Sam Olens.jpg Samuel S. Olens 2011–2016Republican
55 Christopher M. Carr.jpg Christopher M. Carr 2016–presentRepublican

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illinois Attorney General</span> Attorney General for the U.S. state of Illinois

The Illinois attorney general is the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois in the United States. Originally an appointed office, it is now an office filled by statewide election. Based in Chicago and Springfield, the attorney general is responsible for providing legal counsel for the various state agencies including the governor of Illinois and Illinois General Assembly, as well as conducting all legal affairs pertaining to the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supreme Court of Florida</span> Highest court in the U.S. state of Florida

The Supreme Court of Florida is the highest court in the U.S. state of Florida. It consists of seven justices—one of whom serves as Chief Justice. Six members are chosen from six districts around the state to foster geographic diversity, and one is selected at large.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Attorney General</span> Attorney general for the U.S. state of North Carolina

The attorney general of North Carolina is a statewide elected office in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The attorney general is a constitutional officer responsible for representing state agencies in legal matters, supplying other state officials and prosecutors with legal advice, and leading the North Carolina Department of Justice. The incumbent attorney general, Josh Stein, assumed office on January 1, 2017. The position of attorney general dates back to North Carolina's colonial history. North Carolina's 1776 constitution established the office as an official appointed by the North Carolina General Assembly. The state's 1868 constitution made the attorney general an elected executive official with their duties prescribed by law. Since 1971, the officer has sat on the North Carolina Council of State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supreme Court of Texas</span> Highest court in the U.S. state of Texas for civil appeals

The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for civil matters in the U.S. state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort in criminal matters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attorney General of New York</span> Attorney general for the U.S. state of New York

The attorney general of New York is the chief legal officer of the U.S. state of New York and head of the Department of Law of the state government. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, initially under the Dutch colonial government of New Netherland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attorney General of New Mexico</span>

The attorney general of New Mexico, an elected executive officer of the state, oversees the New Mexico Attorney General's Office and serves as head of the New Mexico Department of Justice.

The attorney general of New Hampshire is a constitutional officer of the U.S. state of New Hampshire who serves as head of the New Hampshire Department of Justice. As of April 22, 2021, the state's attorney general is John Formella.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attorney General of Oklahoma</span> Attorney general for the U.S. state of Oklahoma

The attorney general of Oklahoma is the State Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma. The attorney general serves as the chief legal and law enforcement officer of the State of Oklahoma and head of the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney General. The attorney general is responsible for providing legal advice to the other departments and agencies of the executive branch, legislative branch and judicial branch of the state government. The attorney general is also responsible for the prosecution of offenses against Oklahoma law and advocate for the basic legal rights of Oklahoma residents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan Attorney General</span> Michigan government official

The attorney general of the State of Michigan is the fourth-ranking official in the U.S. state of Michigan. The officeholder is elected statewide in the November general election alongside the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, members of the Senate and members of the House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government of Oklahoma</span> Government of the U.S. state of Oklahoma

The government of the U.S. State of Oklahoma, established by the Oklahoma Constitution, is a republican democracy modeled after the federal government of the United States. The state government has three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. Through a system of separation of powers or "checks and balances," each of these branches has some authority to act on its own, some authority to regulate the other two branches, and has some of its own authority, in turn, regulated by the other branches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon Attorney General</span> Statutory office in the state of Oregon, United States

The Oregon attorney general is a statutory officer within the executive branch of the state of Oregon, and serves as the chief legal officer of the state, heading its Department of Justice with its six operating divisions. The attorney general is chosen by statewide partisan election to serve a term of four years. The incumbent, Ellen Rosenblum, was sworn in on June 29, 2012, replacing John Kroger, a Democrat who was elected in 2008 and resigned six months before the end of his term to become president of Reed College. She was re-elected in 2016 and 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Attorney General</span> Elected government official of the state of Texas

The Texas attorney general is the chief legal officer of the U.S. state of Texas. The current officeholder, Republican Angela Colmenero, has been appointed to the position on July 10, 2023 by Governor Greg Abbott. She serves instead of Ken Paxton, who has been impeached and suspended without salary while awaiting trial in the Texas Senate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attorney General of Mississippi</span> Attorney general for the U.S. state of Mississippi

The attorney general of Mississippi is a statewide elected office in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The attorney general is a constitutional officer responsible for representing state agencies in legal matters, supplying other state officials and prosecutors with legal advice, and bringing lawsuits on behalf of the state. They serve a four-year term with no term limits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Olens</span> Former Georgia Attorney General and University President

Samuel Scott Olens is an American lawyer and politician who served as Attorney General of Georgia. Olens was elected Georgia AG in 2010, resigning on November 1, 2016, following his appointment as President of Kennesaw State University. He subsequently resigned as KSU's president on February 15, 2018 and then served as counsel for Dentons global law firm. He was named partner Dentons' Public Policy practice in 2021.

The Judiciary of California or the Judicial Branch of California is defined under the California Constitution as holding the judicial power of the state of California which is vested in the Supreme Court, the Courts of Appeal and the Superior Courts. The judiciary has a hierarchical structure with the California Supreme Court at the top, California Courts of Appeal as the primary appellate courts, and the California Superior Courts as the primary trial courts.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in the U.S. state of Georgia since the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015. Attorney General Sam Olens announced that Georgia would "adhere to the ruling of the Court", and the first couple married just one hour after the ruling was handed down. Previously, Georgia had banned same-sex marriage both by statute and its State Constitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher M. Carr</span> American lawyer and current Attorney General of Georgia

Christopher Michael Carr is an American lawyer and politician. A Republican, he is the current Attorney General of Georgia. In 2016, Governor Nathan Deal appointed Carr as Attorney General to fill a vacancy created by the departure of former Attorney General Sam Olens. Carr was elected to a four-year term in Georgia's 2018 statewide elections. He won a second term in the 2022 Georgia Attorney General election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Britt Grant</span> American judge (born 1978)

Britt Cagle Grant is an American attorney and judge who is a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. She is a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nels S. D. Peterson</span> American judge (born 1978)

Nels Stefan David Peterson is an American lawyer serving as the presiding justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Georgia Attorney General election</span>

The 2022 Georgia Attorney General election was held on November 8, 2022, to elect the Attorney General of Georgia. Incumbent Republican attorney general Christopher M. Carr was appointed to the office on November 1, 2016, following the resignation of Sam Olens to become the president of Kennesaw State University. Carr ran for a second full term in office. Carr won re-election over state senator Jen Jordan by a margin of 5.3 points.

References

  1. "Duties". Office of Attorney General of Georgia Chris Carr. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  2. "History | Office of Attorney General Chris Carr". law.ga.gov. Retrieved 2016-11-01.