View source for Nebraska Attorney General

{{Short description|Attorney general for the U.S. state of Nebraska}}
{{Infobox official post
| post                     = [[Attorney General]]
| body                     = [[Nebraska]]
| native_name              = 
| insignia                 = 
| insigniasize             = 
| insigniacaption          = 
| flag                     = 
| flagsize                 = 
| flagborder               = 
| flagcaption              = 
| image                    = Mike Hilgers.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| alt                      = 
| incumbent                = [[Mike Hilgers]]
| acting                   = 
| incumbentsince           = January 5, 2023
| department               = 
| style                    = 
| type                     = Chief legal officer
| status                   = 
| abbreviation             = 
| member_of                = 
| reports_to               = 
| residence                = 
| seat                     = [[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]]
| nominator                = 
| appointer                = 
| appointer_qualified      = 
| termlength               = 4 years
| termlength_qualified     = 
| constituting_instrument  = 
| precursor                = 
| formation                = February 21, 1867
| first                    = [[Champion S. Chase|Champion Chase]]
| last                     = 
| abolished                = 
| succession               = 
| unofficial_names         = 
| deputy                   = 
| salary                   = 
| website                  = [http://ago.nebraska.gov/ Nebraska Attorney General] official website
}}

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

==List of attorneys general==
;Parties
{{legend2|#FFB6B6|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (26)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#B0CEFF|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (6)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#79CDCD|[[People's Party (United States)|Fusion (Democratic/Populist)]] (1)|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{| class=wikitable
! #
! Image
! colspan=1 | Attorney General
! Term
! Party
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 1
| [[File:Champion Chase, mayor of Omaha.jpg|60px]]
| [[Champion S. Chase]]{{efn|Term began February 21, 1867.}}
| 1867–1869
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|2
| 
| [[Seth Robinson (politician)|Seth Robinson]]
| 1869–1871
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 3
| 
| [[George H. Roberts]]
| 1871–1873
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 4
| 
| [[Joseph R. Webster]]
| 1873–1875
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|align=center|{{endash}}
| 
| [[George H. Roberts]]
| 1875–1879
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 5
| 
| [[Caleb J. Dilworth]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Republican Ticket|newspaper=Nebraska State Journal|page=2|date=November 5, 1878|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/313748630/}}</ref>
| 1879–1883
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 6
| 
| [[Isaac Powers, Jr.]]
| 1883–1885
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 7
| 
| [[William Leese (politician)|William Leese]]
| 1885–1891
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 8
| 
| [[George H. Hastings]]
| 1891–1895
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 9
| 
| [[Arthur S. Churchill]]
| 1895–1897
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Fusion}}
| 10
| [[File:Constantine J. Smyth, c.1899.jpg|60px]]
| [[Constantine J. Smyth]]
| 1897–1901
| Fusion{{efn|Joint [[Populist Party (United States)|Populist]]-[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] ticket.}}
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 11
| 
| [[Frank N. Prout]]
| 1901–1905
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 12
| [[File:Norris Brown.jpg|60px]]
| [[Norris Brown]]
| 1905–1907
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 13
| [[File:William Townsend Thompson.jpg|60px]]
| [[William T. Thompson (Nebraska politician)|William T. Thompson]]{{efn|Resigned.}}
| 1907–1910
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 14
| [[File:Arthur F. Mullen LCCN2014716865.jpg|60px]]
| [[Arthur F. Mullen]]{{efn|Appointed to fill vacancy. In office October 31, 1910, to January 5, 1911.}}
| 1910–1911
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 15
| 
| [[Grant G. Martin]]
| 1911–1915
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 16
| 
| [[Willis E. Reed]]
| 1915–1919
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 17
| 
| [[Clarence A. Davis]]
| 1919–1923
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 18
| 
| [[Ora S. Spillman]]
| 1923–1929
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 19
| 
| [[Christian A. Sorensen]]
| 1929–1933
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 20
| 
| [[Paul F. Good]]
| 1933–1935
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 21
| 
| [[William H. Wright (politician)|William H. Wright]]
| 1935–1937
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 22
| [[File:Richard Charles Hunter (United States Senator from Nebraska).jpg|60px]]
| [[Richard C. Hunter]]
| 1937–1939
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 23
| 
| [[Walter R. Johnson]]
| 1939–1949
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 24
| [[File:James H. Anderson (NE).png|60px]]
| [[James H. Anderson (Nebraska politician)|James H. Anderson]]{{efn|Resigned.}}
| 1949–1950
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 25
| 
| [[Clarence S. Beck]]{{efn|Appointed by Governor [[Val Peterson]] to fill vacancy on March 1, 1950; elected in November 1950.}}
| 1950–1951
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| 26
| [[File:Harold P. Caldwell Nebraska.jpg|60px]]
| [[Harold P. Caldwell]]{{efn|Caldwell was elected in a special election to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of [[James H. Anderson (Nebraska politician)|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."<ref>{{cite news|title=Filing Books Closed: Final Day Has Flurry of 11th Hour Surprises|date=June 30, 1950|newspaper=Holdrege Daily Citizen|page=1|access-date=November 10, 2024|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/703081378/}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite news|title=Caldwell to Attend Vote Certifying|date=November 26, 1950|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star|page=1|access-date=November 10, 2024|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/314608716/}}</ref> whereas Beck argued that Caldwell couldn't take office until the [[Nebraska Legislature]] canvassed the result on January 2, 1951.<ref>{{cite news|title=Caldwell Case Debate Heard: Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=December 2, 1950|page=2|access-date=November 10, 2024|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/882957165/}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Caldwell to Hold Attorney General Office for 'Few Hours'|newspaper=Kearney Hub|date=December 9, 1950|access-date=November 10, 2024|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/708588945/}}</ref> 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.<ref name=beckback>{{cite news|title=Omaha Demo[crat] Has 'Smooth Day' As State Officer|newspaper=McCook Daily Gazette|date=January 4, 1951|page=5|access-date=November 10, 2024|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/726183747/|quote=Beck, whom Caldwell unseated, took over the office last night at midnight.}}</ref><ref name=caldwellsummary>{{cite news|title=Caldwell Files for Omaha Council|newspaper=The Columbus Telegram|date=March 8, 1951|page=4|access-date=November 10, 2024|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/428805995/}}</ref>}}
| 1951 {{small|(one day)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
|align=center|{{endash}}
| 
| [[Clarence S. Beck]]{{efn|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.<ref name=beckback /><ref name=caldwellsummary />}}
| 1951–1961
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 27
| 
| [[Clarence A. H. Meyer]]
| 1961–1975
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 28
| [[File:Paul L. Douglas (NE).png|60px]]
| [[Paul L. Douglas]]{{efn|Resigned.}}
| 1975–1984
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 29
| 
| [[Robert M. Spire]]{{efn|Appointed by Governor [[Bob Kerrey]] to fill vacancy. Sworn in on March 1, 1985; elected in 1986.}}
| 1985–1991
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 30
| [[File:Don Stenberg.jpg|60px]]
| [[Don Stenberg]]
| 1991–2003
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 31
| [[File:Attorney General Jon Bruning (6020241630) (cropped).jpg|60px]]
| [[Jon Bruning]]
| 2003–2015
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 32
| 
| [[Doug Peterson (Nebraska politician)|Doug Peterson]]
| 2015–2023
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| 33
| [[File:Mike Hilgers.jpg|60px]]
| [[Mike Hilgers]]
| 2023–present
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|}

==Notes==
{{noteslist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
*[http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/Bluebook/stategov/stateexec/execoff/attorneygeneral.pdfhl=en&gl=us AG Office document]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}(cached)

==External links==
* [http://ago.nebraska.gov/ Nebraska Attorney General] official website
* [http://www.abajournal.com/search/results/search&keywords=Nebraska+Attorney+General/ Nebraska Attorney General] articles at ''ABA Journal''
* [http://public.findlaw.com/LCsearch.html?restrict=consumer&entry=%22Nebraska+Attorney+General%22 News and Commentary] at [[FindLaw]]
* [http://law.justia.com/codes/nebraska/ Nebraska Revised Statutes] at Law.Justia.com
* [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&navby=title&v1=State+of+Nebraska U.S. Supreme Court Opinions - "Cases with title containing: State of Nebraska"] at [[FindLaw]]
* [http://www.dsba.org/ Nebraska State Bar Association]
* [http://www.naag.org/naag/attorneys-general/whos-my-ag/nebraska/doug-peterson.php Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson profile] at [[National Association of Attorneys General]]

{{U.S. State Attorneys General}}
{{Nebraska statewide elected officials}}

[[Category:Nebraska attorneys general|*]]
[[Category:Nebraska law-related lists|Attorneys general]]