Nebraska Attorney General

Last updated
Attorney General of Nebraska
Mike Hilgers.jpg
Incumbent
Mike Hilgers
since January 5, 2023
TypeChief legal officer
Seat Lincoln
Term length 4 years
FormationFebruary 21, 1867
First holder Champion Chase
Website Nebraska Attorney General official website

The Nebraska attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer and lawyer for the U.S. state of Nebraska.

Contents

List of attorneys general

Parties

   Republican (26)   Democratic (6)   Fusion (Democratic/Populist) (1)

#ImageAttorney GeneralTermParty
1 Champion Chase, mayor of Omaha.jpg Champion S. Chase [a] 1867–1869 Republican
2 Seth Robinson 1869–1871 Republican
3 George H. Roberts 1871–1873 Republican
4 Joseph R. Webster 1873–1875 Republican
George H. Roberts 1875–1879 Republican
5 Caleb J. Dilworth [1] 1879–1883 Republican
6 Isaac Powers, Jr. 1883–1885 Republican
7 William Leese 1885–1891 Republican
8 George H. Hastings 1891–1895 Republican
9 Arthur S. Churchill 1895–1897 Republican
10 Constantine J. Smyth, c.1899.jpg Constantine J. Smyth 1897–1901Fusion [b]
11 Frank N. Prout 1901–1905 Republican
12 Norris Brown.jpg Norris Brown 1905–1907 Republican
13 William Townsend Thompson.jpg William T. Thompson [c] 1907–1910 Republican
14 Arthur F. Mullen LCCN2014716865.jpg Arthur F. Mullen [d] 1910–1911 Democratic
15 Grant G. Martin 1911–1915 Republican
16 Willis E. Reed 1915–1919 Democratic
17 Clarence A. Davis 1919–1923 Republican
18 Ora S. Spillman 1923–1929 Republican
19 Christian A. Sorensen 1929–1933 Republican
20 Paul F. Good 1933–1935 Democratic
21 William H. Wright 1935–1937 Democratic
22 Richard Charles Hunter (United States Senator from Nebraska).jpg Richard C. Hunter 1937–1939 Democratic
23 Walter R. Johnson 1939–1949 Republican
24 James H. Anderson (NE).png James H. Anderson [e] 1949–1950 Republican
25 Clarence S. Beck [f] 1950–1951 Republican
26 Harold P. Caldwell Nebraska.jpg Harold P. Caldwell [g] 1951 (one day) Democratic
Clarence S. Beck [h] 1951–1961 Republican
27 Clarence A. H. Meyer 1961–1975 Republican
28 Paul L. Douglas (NE).png Paul L. Douglas [i] 1975–1984 Republican
29 Robert M. Spire [j] 1985–1991 Republican
30 Don Stenberg.jpg Don Stenberg 1991–2003 Republican
31 Attorney General Jon Bruning (6020241630) (cropped).jpg Jon Bruning 2003–2015 Republican
32 Doug Peterson 2015–2023 Republican
33 Mike Hilgers.jpg Mike Hilgers 2023–present Republican

Notes

  1. Term began February 21, 1867.
  2. Joint Populist-Democratic ticket.
  3. Resigned.
  4. Appointed to fill vacancy. In office October 31, 1910, to January 5, 1911.
  5. Resigned.
  6. Appointed by Governor Val Peterson to fill vacancy on March 1, 1950; elected in November 1950.
  7. Caldwell was elected in a special election to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of James H. Anderson. Although the governor had appointed Clarence S. Beck to the post, Caldwell argued that it was still a vacancy to be filled by a special election, since the governor's appointee could only hold office "until the next election."'"`UNIQ--ref-00000015-QINU`"' Since no other candidates filed to run to fill the short-term vacancy, Caldwell was elected, but his election was disputed. Caldwell argued that he should take office immediately upon the vote being certified on November 27, 1950,'"`UNIQ--ref-00000016-QINU`"' whereas Beck argued that Caldwell couldn't take office until the Nebraska Legislature canvassed the result on January 2, 1951.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000017-QINU`"' The Nebraska Supreme Court heard the dispute on December 2, 1950, and sided with Beck that Caldwell could not take office until the Legislature canvassed the vote.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000018-QINU`"' Caldwell became attorney general on January 2, 1951, after the Legislature had canvassed the vote. He only served in office about 31 hours until midnight on January 4, 1951, when Beck was reinstated pursuant to Nebraska Constitution Article XVII, Section 5.'"`UNIQ--ref-00000019-QINU`"''"`UNIQ--ref-0000001A-QINU`"'
  8. Originally appointed in March 1950 and elected to a full term in November 1950, Beck took the office back on January 4, 1951, after Harold P. Caldwell occupied it for roughly 31 hours.'"`UNIQ--ref-0000001C-QINU`"''"`UNIQ--ref-0000001D-QINU`"'
  9. Resigned.
  10. Appointed by Governor Bob Kerrey to fill vacancy. Sworn in on March 1, 1985; elected in 1986.

References

  1. "Republican Ticket". Nebraska State Journal. November 5, 1878. p. 2.