View source for Arizona Attorney General

{{short description|Attorney general of the U.S. state of Arizona}}
{{Infobox Political post
| post = Attorney General
| body = Arizona
| insignia = Seal of the Attorney General of Arizona.png
| insigniasize = 
| insigniacaption = Seal of the attorney general of Arizona
| imagesize = 
| image = Kris Mayes (52365525231) (cropped).jpg
| alt = = Current Arizona Attorney General [[Kris Mayes]]
| incumbent = [[Kris Mayes]]
| incumbentsince = January 2, 2023
| style = The Honorable
| termlength = Four years; renewable once consecutively
| inaugural = 
| residence = [[Phoenix, Arizona]]
| formation = 1912
| succession = [[Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States#Arizona|Second]]
| deputy = None
| salary = $90,000
| website = {{url|https://www.azag.gov/}}
}}
The '''Arizona attorney general''' is the [[General counsel|chief legal officer]] of the [[Arizona|State of Arizona]],<ref name="AZAG-power_ARS41-192"/> in the [[United States]]. This state officer is the head of the Arizona Department of Law,<ref>{{cite web |title=A.R.S. §41-193 {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties |url=https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/41/00193.htm |department=Arizona State Legislature |publisher=State of Arizona |accessdate=18 January 2019 |ref=AZAG-power_ARS41-193 | quote=The department of law shall be composed of the attorney general and the subdivisions of the department created as provided in this article [...] (A.R.S. §41-193).}}</ref> more commonly known as the Arizona Attorney General's Office. The state attorney general is a [[Arizona Constitution|constitutionally]]-established officer, elected by the people of the state to a four-year term. The state attorney general is second (behind the [[Secretary of State of Arizona|Secretary of State]]) in the [[Gubernatorial lines of succession in the United States|line of succession]] to the office of [[List of governors of Arizona|Governor of Arizona]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.azleg.gov/viewDocument/?docName=http://www.azleg.gov/const/5/6.htm|title=Constitution of Arizona: Article V, Section 6|work=[[Arizona Legislature]]|accessdate=August 22, 2019}}</ref> 

Headed by the attorney general of Arizona,<ref name="AZAG-power_ARS41-192">{{cite web |title=A.R.S. §41-192 {{!}} Powers and duties of attorney general; restrictions on state agencies as to legal counsel; exceptions; compromise and settlement monies |url=https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/41/00192.htm |department=Arizona State Legislature |publisher=State of Arizona |accessdate=18 January 2019 |ref=AZAG-power_ARS41-192 |quote=The attorney general shall have charge of and direct the department of law and shall serve as chief legal officer of the state [...] (A.R.S. §41-192).}}</ref> the Arizona Attorney General's Office is the largest law office in the state, with approximately 400 attorneys and 1,000 employees. {{asof|2019}}, the Attorney General's Office is divided into the following divisions:<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Office of Attorney General |url=https://www.azag.gov/about |department=Arizona Attorney General's Office |publisher=State of Arizona |accessdate=18 January 2019 |ref=AZAG-about}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Arizona Attorney General's Office {{!}} AGO Organization |url=https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/docs/office/AGO_Org_Chart_2019-01-14.pdf |department=Arizona Attorney General |publisher=State of Arizona |accessdate=January 18, 2019 |ref=AZAG-OrgChart2019 |date=January 14, 2019}}</ref>
* Executive Office
* Solicitor General
* Operations
* Child and Family Protection
* State Government Division
* Civil Litigation Division
* Criminal

==Qualifications==
The Arizona Constitution requires all of the officers in the state's executive department, including the attorney general, to be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for 10 years and an Arizona resident for five years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arizona Constitution, article 5, section 2 |url=https://www.azleg.gov/viewDocument/?docName=http://www.azleg.gov/const/5/2.htm |department=Arizona State Legislature |publisher=State of Arizona |accessdate=18 January 2019 |ref=AZAG-eligibility |quote=No person shall be eligible to any of the offices mentioned in section 1 of this article except a person of the age of not less than twenty-five years, who shall have been for ten years next preceding his election a citizen of the United States, and for five years next preceding his election a citizen of Arizona (Arizona Const., article 5, section 2).}}</ref>

Arizona law further requires the attorney general to have been a "practicing attorney before the supreme court of the state" for at least five years before taking office,<ref>{{cite web |title=A.R.S. §41-191(A) {{!}} Attorney general; qualifications; salary; assistants; fees; exceptions; outside counsel |url=https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/41/00191.htm |department=Arizona State Legislature |publisher=State of Arizona |accessdate=18 January 2019 |quote=The attorney general shall have been for not less than five years immediately preceding the date of taking office a practicing attorney before the supreme court of the state. He is entitled to receive an annual salary pursuant to section 41-190 (A.R.S. §41-191(A).}}</ref> however the [[Arizona Supreme Court]] ruled the law unconstitutional during the appointment process of [[Jack LaSota]] in 1977; LaSota had not renewed his state bar membership and was therefore not considered a practicing attorney.<ref>{{cite web |title=State ex rel. Sawyer v. LaSota, 119 Ariz. 253 (1978) |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1193580/state-ex-rel-sawyer-v-lasota/ |department=Court Listener |publisher=Free Law Project |accessdate=18 January 2019}}</ref>

== Powers and duties ==
While the [[Arizona Constitution|state constitution]] establishes the office of Attorney General, it does not prescribe the powers of the office. Instead, the Arizona Constitution expressly provides that the powers and duties of the state attorney general are to be prescribed by the [[Arizona State Legislature]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Arizona Constitution, Article V, §9 |url=https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/ |department=Arizona State Legislature |publisher=State of Arizona |accessdate=4 February 2019 |quote=The powers and duties of secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney-general, and superintendent of public instruction shall be as prescribed by law.}}</ref> In pursuance of this constitutional mandate, the Arizona Legislature has prescribed that, under [[Arizona Revised Statutes|A.R.S.]] §41-193(A)(1) – § 41-193(A)(8), the attorney general of Arizona, through the Arizona Department of Law, shall:
# Prosecute and defend in the state supreme court all proceedings in which the state or an officer thereof is a party ~ A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(1);<ref>{{cite web |title=A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(1) {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties |url=https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/41/00193.htm |department=Arizona State Legislature |publisher=State of Arizona |accessdate=4 February 2019 |quote=[The attorney general shall] [...] [p]rosecute and defend in the supreme court all proceedings in which the state or an officer thereof in his official capacity is a party.}}</ref>
# Under certain conditions, prosecute and defend any proceeding in all other courts of the state, in which the state or an officer thereof is a party or has an interest ~ A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(2);<ref>{{cite web |title=A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(2) {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties |url=https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/41/00193.htm |department=Arizona State Legislature |publisher=State of Arizona |accessdate=4 February 2019 |quote=[The attorney general shall] [...] [a]t the direction of the governor or when deemed necessary by the attorney general, prosecute and defend any proceeding in a state court other than the supreme court in which the state or an officer thereof is a party or has an interest.}}</ref>
# Represent the state in any action in a federal court ~ A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(3);<ref>{{cite web |title=A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(3) {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties |url=https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/41/00193.htm |department=Arizona State Legislature |publisher=State of Arizona |accessdate=4 February 2019 |quote=[The attorney general shall] [...] [r]epresent the state in any action in a federal court, the cost thereof and the expenses of the attorney general incurred therein to be a charge against the state.}}</ref>
# Exercise supervisory powers over county attorneys ~ A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(4);<ref>{{cite web |title=A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(4) {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties |url=https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/41/00193.htm |department=Arizona State Legislature |publisher=State of Arizona |accessdate=4 February 2019 |quote=[The attorney general shall] [...] [e]xercise Exercise supervisory powers over county attorneys of the several counties in matters pertaining to that office and require reports relating to the public business thereof.}}</ref>
# Under certain conditions, assist any county attorney in the discharge of their duties ~ A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(5);<ref>{{cite web |title=A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(5) {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties |url=https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/41/00193.htm |department=Arizona State Legislature |publisher=State of Arizona |accessdate=4 February 2019 |quote=[The attorney general shall] [...] [a]t the direction of the governor, or when deemed necessary, assist any of the county attorneys in the discharge of their duties.}}</ref>
# Maintain a docket of all proceedings in which the attorney general is required to appear ~ A.R.S. §41-193(A)(6);<ref>{{cite web |title=A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(6) {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties |url=https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/41/00193.htm |department=Arizona State Legislature |publisher=State of Arizona |accessdate=4 February 2019 |quote=[The attorney general shall] [...] [m]aintain a docket of all proceedings in which the attorney general is required to appear, showing the condition thereof, the proceedings therein, the proceedings subsequent to judgment and the reasons for any delay of execution.}}</ref>
# Issue attorney general opinions on questions of law to  state officers and agencies ~ A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(7);<ref>{{cite web |title=A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(7) {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties |url=https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/41/00193.htm |department=Arizona State Legislature |publisher=State of Arizona |accessdate=4 February 2019 |quote=[The attorney general shall] [...] [u]pon demand by the legislature, or either house or any member thereof, any public officer of the state or a county attorney, render a written opinion upon any question of law relating to their offices. Such opinions shall be public records.}}</ref> and
# Perform other duties prescribed by law ~ A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(8).<ref>{{cite web |title=A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(8) {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties |url=https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/41/00193.htm |department=Arizona State Legislature |publisher=State of Arizona |accessdate=4 February 2019 |quote=[The attorney general shall] [...] [p]erform other duties prescribed by law.}}</ref>

== Arizona Attorneys General ==
=== [[Arizona Territory]] ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Image
!Name
!Term of Office
|-
|[[File:Coles Bashford.png|60px]]
|[[Coles Bashford]]
|1864–1866
|-
|
|[[John A. Rush]]
|1866–1867
|-
|[[File:GHOury.jpg|60px]]
|[[Granville Henderson Oury]]
|1869
|-
|
|[[J. E. McCaffry]]
|ca. 1872
|-
|[[File:Clark Churchill.jpg|60px]]
|[[Clark Churchill]]
|1884–1887
|-
|
|[[Briggs Goodrich]]
|1887–1888
|-
|
|[[John A. Rush]]
|1888–1889
|-
|[[File:Clark Churchill.jpg|60px]]
|[[Clark Churchill]]
|1889–1892
|-
|[[File:William Herring.jpg|60px]]
|[[William Herring (politician)|William Herring]]
|1892–1893
|-
|
|[[John C. Herndon]]
|1893
|-
|[[File:Francis J. Heney from Looters of the Public Domain.png|60px]]
|[[Francis J. Heney]]
|1893–1895
|-
|
|[[Thomas D. Satterwhite]]
|1895–1896
|-
|
|[[John Frank Wilson]]
|1896–1897
|-
|
|[[C. M. Frazier]]
|1898
|-
|
|[[Charles F. Ainsworth]]
|1898–1902
|-
|[[File:Edmund William Wells.jpg|60px]]
|[[Edmund W. Wells]]
|1902–1904
|-
|[[File:Joseph Henry Kibbey-oval (3x4a).jpg|60px]]
|[[Joseph H. Kibbey]]
|1904–1905
|-
|
|[[E. S. Clark]]
|1905–1910
|-
|
|John B. Wright
|1910–1912
|}

=== State of Arizona ===
;Parties
{{legend2|#B0CEFF|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic (17)]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#FFB6B6|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican (10)]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{| class="wikitable"
!#
!Image
!Name
!Political Party
!Term of Office
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|1
|[[File:George Purdy Ballard.png|60px]]
|[[George Purdy Bullard]]
|Democratic
|1912–1915
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|2
|[[File:Wiley E. Jones.png|60px]]
|[[Wiley E. Jones]]
|Democratic
|1915–1921
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|3
|[[File:W. J. Galbraith.png|60px]]
|[[W. J. Galbraith]]
|Republican
|1921–1923
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|4
|[[File:John W. Murphy.png|60px]]
|[[John W. Murphy (Arizona politician)|John W. Murphy]]
|Democratic
|1923–1928
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|5
|
|[[K. Berry Peterson]]
|Democratic
|1928–1933
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|6
|[[File:Arthur LaPrade.jpg|60px]]
|[[Arthur T. LaPrade]]
|Democratic
|1933–1935
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|7
|[[File:John L. Sullivan.png|60px]]
|[[John L. Sullivan (Arizona politician)|John L. Sullivan]]
|Democratic
|1935–1937
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|8
|
|[[Joe Conway (Arizona lawyer)|Joe Conway]]
|Democratic
|1937–1944
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|9
|[[File:John L. Sullivan.png|60px]]
|[[John L. Sullivan (Arizona politician)|John L. Sullivan]]
|Democratic
|1944–1948
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|10
|
|[[Evo Anton DeConcini]]
|Democratic
|1948–1949
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|11
|
|[[Fred O. Wilson]]
|Democratic
|1949–1953
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|12
|
|[[Ross F. Jones]]
|Republican
|1953–1955
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|13
|
|[[Robert Morrison (Arizona)|Robert Morrison]]
|Democratic
|1955–1959
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|14
|
|[[Wade Church]]
|Democratic
|1959–1961
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|15
|[[File:Robert Pickrell.png|60px]]
|[[Robert Pickrell]]
|Republican
|1961–1965
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|16
|
|[[Darrell F. Smith]]
|Republican
|1965–1968
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|17
|
|[[Gary K. Nelson]]
|Republican
|1969–1974
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|18
|
|[[N. Warner Lee]]
|Republican
|1974–1975
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|19
|[[File:Bruce Babbitt (AZ).png|60px]]
|[[Bruce Babbitt]]
|Democratic
|1975–1978
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|20
|
|[[Jack LaSota]]
|Democratic
|1978–1979
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|21
|[[File:Bob Corbin by Gage Skidmore.jpg|60px]]
|[[Robert K. Corbin]]
|Republican
|1979–1991
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|22
|[[File:GrantWoodsCamelBack2010 (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|[[Grant Woods (attorney)|Grant Woods]]
|Republican
|1991–1999
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|23
|[[File:JanetNapolitanoIraq.jpg|60px]]
|[[Janet Napolitano]]
|Democratic
|1999–2003
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|24
|[[File:Terry Goddard by Gage Skidmore (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|[[Terry Goddard]]
|Democratic
|2003–2011
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|25
|[[File:Tom Horne (12829123865) (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|[[Tom Horne]]
|Republican
|2011–2015
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|26
|[[File:Mark Brnovich by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|60px]]
|[[Mark Brnovich]]
|Republican
|2015–2023
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
|27
|[[File:Kris Mayes (52365525231) (cropped).jpg|60px]]
|[[Kris Mayes]]
|Democratic
|2023–''present''
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927205847/http://azmemory.lib.az.us/cdm4/browse.php?CISOROOT=%2Fagopinions&CISOSORT=descri%7Cf&CISOSTART=1%2C1 Arizona Attorney General Opinions]
* [https://www.azag.gov/ Arizona Attorney General] official website
* [http://www.abajournal.com/search/results/search&keywords=Arizona+Attorney+General/ Arizona Attorney General] articles at ''ABA Journal''
* [http://public.findlaw.com/LCsearch.html?restrict=consumer&entry=%22Arizona+Attorney+General%22 News and Commentary] at [[FindLaw]]
* [http://law.justia.com/codes/arizona/ Arizona Revised Statutes] at Law.Justia.com
* [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&navby=title&v1=State+of+Arizona U.S. Supreme Court Opinions – "Cases with title containing: State of Arizona"] at [[FindLaw]]
* [http://www.azbar.org/ State Bar of Arizona]
* [http://www.naag.org/naag/attorneys-general/whos-my-ag/arizona/mark-bronvich.php Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich profile] at [[National Association of Attorneys General]]
* [https://www.azag.gov/press-releases Press releases] at Arizona Attorney General's office

{{U.S. state attorneys general}}
{{Arizona statewide elected officials}}

[[Category:Arizona attorneys general| ]]
[[Category:Arizona law-related lists]]