Attorney General of Wisconsin

Last updated
Attorney General of Wisconsin
Seal of the Wisconsin Attorney General.png
Seal of the attorney general of Wisconsin
Attorney Josh Kaul.jpg
Incumbent
Josh Kaul
since January 7, 2019
Wisconsin Department of Justice
Style
Seat Wisconsin State Capitol
Madison, Wisconsin
AppointerGeneral election
Term length Four years, no term limits
Constituting instrument Wisconsin Constitution of 1848, Article VI
Inaugural holder James S. Brown
FormationJune 7, 1848
(176 years ago) (June 7, 1848)
Salary $148,242 [1]
Website Official page
Official twitter

The attorney general of Wisconsin is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Forty-five individuals have held the office of attorney general since statehood. The incumbent is Josh Kaul, a Democrat. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Election and term of office

The attorney general is elected on Election Day in November, and takes office on the first Monday of the next January. [5] There is no limit to the number of terms an attorney general may hold. From 1848 to 1968, the attorney general was elected to a two-year term in the November general election. Since 1970, following ratification of a constitutional amendment in April 1967, the attorney general has been elected to a four-year term.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of the attorney general, the governor of Wisconsin may appoint a replacement to fill the remainder of the term. The attorney general may be removed from office through an impeachment trial. [6] They may also choose to resign from office.

Powers and duties

The attorney general is the chief law officer of the state of Wisconsin, and amongst other duties has charge and conduct for the state of all suits instituted for and against the government thereof, certifies all bonds issued by the state, protects the School Trust Funds managed by the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, and provides written opinions on questions of law to either house of the Wisconsin Legislature or the head of any state agency. [7] [8] By virtue of office, the attorney general directs and supervises the Wisconsin Department of Justice. [9] In accordance with Article X, Section 7 of the Wisconsin State Constitution, the attorney general is a member of the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands; the same is also a member of, or designates members to, the Claims Board, Crime Victims Rights Board, Group Insurance Board, Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions, Judicial Council, Law Enforcement Standards Board, Public Records Board, and the Board of Directors of the Insurance Security Fund. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

List of attorneys general of Wisconsin

This is a list of attorneys general for Wisconsin, from before statehood to present.

Number of attorneys general of Wisconsin by party affiliation
PartyAttorneys
Republican 28
Democratic 16
Progressive 1

Wisconsin Territory

Before statehood, the Wisconsin Territory also had several attorneys general appointed by the governor of the territory. [18]

ImageNameTook officeLeft officeTerritorial governor
Henry S. Baird.jpg Henry S. Baird 18361839 Henry Dodge
Horatio N. Wells 18391841Henry Dodge
Mortimer M. Jackson.png Mortimer M. Jackson 18421844 James Doty
William Pitt Lynde (Wisconsin Congressman) (3x4a).jpg William Pitt Lynde 18441845 Nathaniel P. Tallmadge
Mortimer M. Jackson.png Mortimer M. Jackson18451846Henry Dodge
A. Hyatt Smith 18461848

State of Wisconsin

   Democratic    Republican    Progressive

#ImageNamePartyTook officeLeft office
1 James Sproat Brown (3x4a).png James S. Brown
(1824–1878) 		Democratic June 7, 1848 [19] January 7, 1850
2 S. Park Coon
(1820–1883)		DemocraticJanuary 7, 1850 [19] January 5, 1852
3 Experience Estabrook (Nebraska Congressman).jpg Experience Estabrook
(1813–1894)		DemocraticJanuary 5, 1852 [19] January 2, 1854
4 George Baldwin Smith.png George Baldwin Smith
(1823–1879)		DemocraticJanuary 2, 1854 [19] January 7, 1856
5 William Rudolph Smith.png William Rudolph Smith
(1787–1868)		DemocraticJanuary 7, 1856 [19] January 4, 1858
6 GabrielBouck.jpg Gabriel Bouck
(1828–1904)		DemocraticJanuary 4, 1858 [19] January 2, 1860
7 James Henry Howe [note 1]
(1827–1893)		 Republican January 2, 1860 [19] October 7, 1862 [19] [20]
8 Winfield Smith.png Winfield Smith [note 2]
(1827–1899)		RepublicanOctober 7, 1862 [19] January 1, 1866
9 Charles R Gill.png Charles R. Gill
(1830–1883)		RepublicanJanuary 1, 1866 [19] January 3, 1870
10 Stephen Steele Barlow
(1818–1900)		RepublicanJanuary 3, 1870 [19] January 5, 1874
11 Andrew Scott Sloan (Wisconsin Congressman).jpg A. Scott Sloan
(1820–1895)		Liberal RepublicanJanuary 5, 1874 [19] January 7, 1878
12 Alexander Wilson
(1833–1888)		RepublicanJanuary 7, 1878 [19] January 2, 1882
13 Leander F. Frisby.png Leander F. Frisby [note 3]
(1825–1889)		RepublicanJanuary 2, 1882 [19] January 3, 1887
14 Charles Edward Estabrook.png Charles E. Estabrook
(1847–1918)		RepublicanJanuary 3, 1887 [19] January 5, 1891
15 James L. O'Connor
(1858–1931)		DemocraticJanuary 5, 1891 [19] January 7, 1895
16 William H. Mylrea
(1853–1916)		RepublicanJanuary 7, 1895 [19] January 2, 1899
17 Emmett R. Hicks
(1854–1925)		RepublicanJanuary 2, 1899 [19] January 5, 1903
18 Lafayette M. Sturdevant
(1856–1923)		RepublicanJanuary 5, 1903 [19] January 7, 1907
19 Frank L. Gilbert
(1864–1930)		RepublicanJanuary 7, 1907 [19] January 2, 1911
20 Levi Horace Bancroft.png Levi H. Bancroft
(1861–1948)		RepublicanJanuary 2, 1911 [19] January 6, 1913
21 Judge Walter C. Owen.png Walter C. Owen [note 1]
(1868–1934)		RepublicanJanuary 6, 1913 [19] January 7, 1918 [19]
22 Spencer Haven [note 2]
(1868–1938)		RepublicanJanuary 7, 1918 [19] January 6, 1919
23 John J Blaine Bain crop.jpg John J. Blaine
(1875–1934)		RepublicanJanuary 6, 1919 [19] January 3, 1921
24 William J Morgan.png William J. Morgan
(1883–1983)		RepublicanJanuary 3, 1921 [19] January 1, 1923
25 Herman Ekern (WI).jpg Herman L. Ekern
(1872–1954)		RepublicanJanuary 1, 1923 [19] January 3, 1927
26 John W. Reynolds Sr.
(1876–1958)		RepublicanJanuary 3, 1927 [19] January 2, 1933
27 James E. Finnegan (WI).png James E. Finnegan
(1892–1966)		DemocraticJanuary 2, 1933 [21] January 4, 1937
28 Orland Steen Loomis (Wisconsin governor-elect).jpg Orland Steen Loomis
(1893–1942)		 Progressive January 4, 1937 [22] January 2, 1939
29 John E. Martin (1891-1968) (8254108492) (1).jpg John E. Martin [note 1]
(1891–1968)		RepublicanJanuary 2, 1939 [23] June 1, 1948 [20]
vacantJune 1, 1948June 5, 1948
30 Grover L. Broadfoot (WI).png Grover L. Broadfoot [note 2] [note 1]
(1892-1962)		RepublicanJune 5, 1948 [20] November 12, 1948 [20]
31 Thomas E. Fairchild (WI) (3x4a).png Thomas E. Fairchild [note 2]
(1912–2007)		DemocraticNovember 12, 1948 [20] January 1, 1951
32 Vernon Wallace Thomson (1905-1988) (8276634634) (1).jpg Vernon W. Thomson
(1905–1988)		RepublicanJanuary 1, 1951 [24] January 7, 1957
33 Stewart G. Honeck (WI).png Stewart G. Honeck
(1906–1999)		RepublicanJanuary 7, 1957 [25] January 5, 1959
34 John W. Reynolds Jr. (WI).png John W. Reynolds Jr.
(1921–2002)		DemocraticJanuary 5, 1959 [26] January 7, 1963
35 George Thompson (WI).png George Thompson
(1918–1992)		RepublicanJanuary 7, 1963 [27] January 4, 1965
36 Bronson La Follette (WI) (cropped).jpg Bronson La Follette
(1936–2018)		DemocraticJanuary 4, 1965 [28] January 6, 1969
37 Robert W. Warren (WI).png Robert W. Warren [note 1]
(1925–1998)		RepublicanJanuary 6, 1969 [29] October 8, 1974 [20]
38 Victor A. Miller [note 2] [note 1]
(1916–1984)		DemocraticOctober 8, 1974 [20] November 25, 1974 [20]
39 Bronson La Follette (WI) (cropped).jpg Bronson La Follette [note 2]
(1936–2018)		DemocraticNovember 25, 1974 [20] January 5, 1987
40 Don Hanaway (WI).png Don Hanaway
(1933–1995)		RepublicanJanuary 5, 1987
[ citation needed ]		January 7, 1991
41 Jim Doyle (3x4) a.jpg Jim Doyle
(born 1945)		DemocraticJanuary 7, 1991 [30] January 6, 2003
42 Peg Lautenschlager Headshot.jpg Peggy Lautenschlager
(1955–2018)		DemocraticJanuary 6, 2003 [31] January 3, 2007
43 J.B.VanHollen.jpg J.B. Van Hollen
(born 1966)		RepublicanJanuary 3, 2007 [32] January 5, 2015
44 Brad Schimel.jpg Brad Schimel
(born 1965)		RepublicanJanuary 5, 2015January 7, 2019
45 Attorney Josh Kaul.jpg Josh Kaul
(born 1980)		DemocraticJanuary 7, 2019Incumbent
Notes:
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Resigned from office.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Appointed to fill unexpired term.
  3. ↑ Some sources record Leander Frisby's surname as "Frisbie". [19]

See also

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References

General

Specific

  1. ↑ Salaries of Wisconsin State Elected Officials (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. 2019. p. 2. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Executive Profiles | Wisconsin Department of Justice".
  3. ↑ "Kaul for Attorney General". Kaul for Attorney General. April 4, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Constitutional Offices".
  5. ↑ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (2007). "Chapter 3: Wisconsin Constitution (Article XIII)". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2007–2008 (PDF). Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 234. ISBN   978-0-9752820-2-1 . Retrieved 2008-05-10.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. ↑ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (2007). "Chapter 3: Wisconsin Constitution (Article VII)". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2007–2008 (PDF). Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 218. ISBN   978-0-9752820-2-1 . Retrieved 2008-05-10.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. ↑ "Wisconsin Legislature: Chapter 165".
  8. ↑ "Wisconsin Legislature: VI,3". docs.legis.wisconsin.gov.
  9. ↑ "Wisconsin Department of Justice | WisDOJ".
  10. ↑ "Wisconsin Legislature: 15.255(1)(a)6". docs.legis.wisconsin.gov.
  11. ↑ "Claims Board Home". claimsboard.wi.gov.
  12. ↑ "Wisconsin Insurance Security Fund - Welcome". www.wilifega.org.
  13. ↑ "Wisconsin Legislature: ARTICLE X".
  14. ↑ "2019 Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions".
  15. ↑ "Group Insurance Board".
  16. ↑ "Wisconsin Judicial Council".
  17. ↑ "Public Records Board Home".
  18. ↑ "Wisconsin Territory". Archived from the original on October 12, 2008.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Anderson, William J. (1929). William A. Anderson (ed.). The Wisconsin blue book, 1929. Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Company. p. 152. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (2007). "Chapter 8: Statistical Information on Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2007–2008 (PDF). Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 722–724. ISBN   978-0-9752820-2-1. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
  21. ↑ "Governor Takes Oath Amid Cheers of 5,000" (PDF). Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. January 3, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  22. ↑ "New Administrations Started" (PDF). Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. Oshkosh, Wisconsin. January 4, 1937. p. 6. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  23. ↑ "Gov. Julius P. Heil Takes Office" (PDF). The Sheboygan Press. Sheboygan, Wisconsin. January 2, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  24. ↑ "Highlights of Inauguration Ceremony as Five State Republican Officials Take Oaths in Capitol" (PDF). Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. January 2, 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  25. ↑ "Thomson Takes Oath, Pledges Common Sense" (PDF). Stevens Point Daily Journal. Stevens Point, Wisconsin. January 7, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  26. ↑ "Gaylord Nelson Becomes State's 34th Governor" (PDF). Stevens Point Daily Journal. Stevens Point, Wisconsin. January 5, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  27. ↑ "Reynolds Calls for Unity At Inaugural Ceremonies" (PDF). Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. Oshkosh, Wisconsin. January 7, 1963. p. 1. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  28. ↑ "Knowles Seeks State's Aid in Move Forward" (PDF). Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. January 5, 1965. p. 1. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  29. ↑ "Knowles Stresses Need for Priorities" (PDF). Manitowoc Herald Times. Manitowoc, Wisconsin. January 6, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  30. ↑ "Thompson takes oath, praises school choice" (PDF). Ironwood Daily Globe. Ironwood, Michigan. January 8, 1991. p. 7. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  31. ↑ "The guard changes". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. January 7, 2003. p. 1A. ProQuest   261710319.
  32. ↑ "At inauguration, Doyle keeps focus on health care, schools; Legislative leaders make bipartisan pledges after Capitol ceremonies". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. January 4, 2007. p. 1B. ProQuest   263656000.
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