Attorney General of New Mexico

Last updated
Attorney General of New Mexico
Seal of New Mexico.svg
Seal of New Mexico
Incumbent
Raúl Torrez
since January 1, 2023
Term length Four years
Formation1912
Website Attorney General of New Mexico

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.

Contents

The officeholder, who is required to be a licensed attorney, is fifth in succession to the office of Governor of New Mexico, after the Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico, Secretary of State of New Mexico, President pro tempore of the New Mexico Senate and the Speaker of New Mexico House of Representatives.

The attorney general of New Mexico functions as the state's chief legal officer, legal counsel to state government, consumer advocate and guardian of the public interest.

Statutory responsibilities

The officeholder represents the state before any courts or agencies when the public interest requires or when requested by the Governor and prosecutes and defends all causes in the New Mexico Supreme Court, New Mexico Court of Appeals, or any other court or tribunal in which the state is a party or is interested. The New Mexico Attorney General prosecutes and defends all actions and proceedings involving any state employee in their official capacity, as well as may represent residential or small business consumers before the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission.

Upon request, the AG will provide written legal opinions to the legislature, any state official, or any district attorney on any subject pending before one of these officials. In matters involving the state Election Code the AG provides legal assistance to the Secretary of State of New Mexico.

The AG drafts contracts, bonds, and other instruments as required for use by the state.

At the governor's direction, the AG may attend and assist in the trial of any indictment or information in any county of the state. When a District Attorney fails or refuses to act, the AG may act on behalf of a county in any criminal or civil case.

In matters of the impeachment of a state legislator or employee, the AG initiates conflict of interest enforcement actions. The AG also prosecutes removal proceedings against district attorneys.

The AG establishes and maintains a register of all documents filed by charitable organizations and makes it available for public inspection.

List of New Mexico Attorneys General

Parties

   Democratic (29)    Republican (3)

#ImageNameTook officeLeft officePartyYears in office
1 Frank W. Clancy 19121916 Republican 5 [note 1]
2 Harry L. Patton 19171918 Democratic 2
3 Oscar O. Askren 19191920 Democratic 2
4 Harry S. Bowman 19211922 Democratic 2
5 Milton Helmick, Judge of the United States Court for China.png Milton J. Helmick 19231924 Democratic 2
6 John W. Armstrong 19251926 Democratic <2 [note 2]
7 Fred E. Wilson 19261926 Democratic <1 [note 3]
8 Robert C. Dow 19271928 Democratic 2
9 Miguel A. Otero III 19291930 Republican 2
10 Ernest K. Neumann 19311934 Democratic 4
11 Frank H. Patton 19351938 Democratic 4
12 Filo Sedillo 19391940 Democratic 2
13 Edward P. Chase 19411944 Democratic <4 [note 4]
14 Clyde C. McCullough 19441948 Democratic <5 [note 5]
15 Joe L. Martínez 19491952 Democratic 4
16 Richard H. Robinson 19531956 Democratic 4
17 Fred M. Standley 19571958 Democratic 2
18 Frank B. Zinn 19591959 Democratic <1 [note 6]
19 Hilton A. Dickson Jr. 19591960 Democratic <2 [note 7]
20 Earl E. Hartley 19611964 Democratic 4
21 Boston E. Witt 19651968 Democratic 4
22 James A. Maloney 19691970 Democratic 2
23 David L. Norvell 19711974 Democratic 4
24 Toney Anaya (NM) (cropped).png Toney Anaya 19751978 Democratic 4
25 Senator Jeff Bingaman in 1985.png Jeff Bingaman 19791982 Democratic 4
26 Paul G. Bardacke 19831986 Democratic 4
27 Hal Stratton Headshot.jpg Harold Stratton 19871990 Republican 4
28 Tom Udall.jpg Tom Udall 19911998 Democratic 8
29 Patricia A. Madrid 19992006 Democratic 8
30 Attorney General Gary King (cropped).jpg Gary King 20072014 Democratic 8
31 Hector Balderas Photo.jpg Hector Balderas 20152022 Democratic 8
32 Raúl Torrez 2023Incumbent Democratic 1
Source: [1]
  1. ↑ Since the first state election was in an odd-numbered year (1911), the term lasted five years.
  2. ↑ Died while in office
  3. ↑ Appointed by Governor Hannett in 1926
  4. ↑ Resigned in 1944.
  5. ↑ Appointed by Governor Dempsey in 1944.
  6. ↑ Resigned in 1959.
  7. ↑ Appointed by Governor Burroughs in 1959.

References

  1. ↑ State of New Mexico (July 2012). Kathryn A. Flynn (ed.). 2012 Centennial Blue Book (PDF). Diana J. Duran. Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State. pp. 227–229. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
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