LAW 507 - Role of State Attorney General

The roots of the Office of State Attorney General run deep in American jurisprudence. All thirteen American colonies had an attorney general and today all fifty states and the District of Columbia have opted for providing legal services through an office of state attorney general. Each office possesses extraordinarily broad jurisdiction and to varying degrees is independent from the executive branch of state government. The combination of sweeping jurisdiction and constitutional independence has given rise to a unique American legal institution of growing importance.

The course will cover the practical realities of the offices of state attorneys general, including organization, attributes, and roles. The course will also dive into the philosophical background of the office, how it fits into federalism and separation of powers, as well as the ways that attorneys general conceive of their roles.

The course will then go through the extensive investigatory powers of the state attorneys general and how it is used. Finally, the course will cover litigation and enforcement actions by state attorneys general, including the legal doctrines that empower the offices.