United States Attorney General

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox official post

The United States attorney general (AG) is the head of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and serves as the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The attorney general acts as the principal legal advisor to the president of the United States on all legal matters. The attorney general is also a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States and a member of the United States National Security Council. Additionally, the attorney general is seventh in the presidential line of succession. The attorney general is the only cabinet department head who is not given the title Secretary.

Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution, the officeholder is nominated by the president of the United States, and, following a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, will take office if confirmed by the majority of the full United States Senate. The attorney general is supported by the Office of the Attorney General, which includes executive staff and several deputy attorneys general.

The attorney general is a Level I position in the Executive Schedule[1] and thus earns the salary prescribed for that level: $250,600, as of January 2025.

Name

The title Attorney General is an example of a noun (attorney) followed by a postpositive adjective (general).[2] "General" is a description of the type of attorney, not a title or rank in itself (as it would be in the military).[2] Even though the attorney general (and the similarly titled solicitor general) is occasionally referred to as "General" or "General [last name]" by senior government officials, this is considered incorrect in standard American English usage.[2][3] For the same reason, the correct American English plural form is "attorneys general" rather than "attorney generals".[3]

History

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File:Seal of the United States Department of Justice.svg
Seal of the Department of Justice

Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1789 which, among other things, established the Office of the Attorney General. The original duties of this officer were "to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court in which the United States shall be concerned, and to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law when required by the president of the United States, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments".[4] Some of these duties have since been transferred to the United States solicitor general and the White House counsel.

The Department of Justice was established in 1870 to support the attorneys general in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The secretary of state, the secretary of the treasury, the secretary of defense, and the attorney general are regarded as the four most important Cabinet officials in the United States because of the size and importance of their respective departments.[5]

Duties and responsibilities

The attorney general's duties and responsibilities as the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government include overseeing the United States Department of Justice, enforcing federal laws, and providing both formal and informal legal advice and opinions to the president of the United States, the cabinet, and the heads of executive departments and agencies. The attorney general represents the federal government in legal matters and supervises the administration and operation of the Department of Justice, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Attorneys, and the United States Marshals Service.[6]

Additionally, the attorney general advises the president of the United States on appointments to federal judicial positions and Department of Justice roles, including U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals. While the attorney general may represent the United States in the Supreme Court and other courts, this is typically handled by the solicitor general.[7][8] The attorney general also performs or supervises other duties as required by statute or executive order.

Presidential transition

It is the practice for the attorney general, along with the other Cabinet secretaries and high-level political appointees of the president, to tender a resignation with effect at noon on the Inauguration Day (January 20) of a new president. The deputy attorney general is also expected to tender a resignation, but is commonly requested to stay on and act as the attorney general, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Template:Trim/Template:Trim § Template:Trim, pending the confirmation by the Senate of the new attorney general.

For example, upon the inauguration of President Donald Trump at noon on January 20, 2017, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch left her position, so then-Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, who had also tendered her resignation, was asked to stay on to serve as the acting attorney general, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Template:Trim/Template:Trim § Template:Trim, until the confirmation of the new attorney general Jeff Sessions, who had been nominated for the office in November 2016 by then-President-elect Donald Trump.[9]Template:Efn

List of attorneys general

File:Flag of the United States Attorney General.svg
Flag of the United States attorney general

Parties

Template:Legend2 (4) Template:Legend2 (5) Template:Legend2 (33) Template:Legend2 (4) Template:Legend2 (40) Template:Legend2 (1)

Status

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  Denotes acting capacity.
No. Portrait Name State of residence Took office Left office President(s)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />1 File:EdRand.jpg Template:Sortname Virginia Template:Dts Template:Dts rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1789–1797)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />2 File:William Bradford, AG.jpg Template:Sortname Pennsylvania Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" rowspan=2 |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />3 File:Charleslee.png Template:Sortname Virginia Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1797–1801)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />4 File:Levi Lincoln Sr.jpg Template:Sortname Massachusetts Template:Dts Template:Dts rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1801–1809)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />5 File:John Breckinridge as Attorney General.jpg Template:Sortname Kentucky Template:Dts Template:Dts
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />6 File:Rodneycaesara3.jpg Template:Sortname Delaware Template:Dts Template:Dts
rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1809–1817)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />7 File:Williampinkney (1).jpg Template:Sortname Maryland Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />8 File:Richard Rush engraving.png Template:Sortname Pennsylvania Template:Dts Template:Dts
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />9 File:William Wirt by Henry Inman (frameless) (cropped) (cropped).jpg Template:Sortname Virginia Template:Dts Template:Dts style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1817–1825)
style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1825–1829)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />10 File:John Macpherson Berrien, portrait by John Maier.png Template:Sortname Georgia Template:Dts Template:Dts rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1829–1837)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />11 File:Roger Taney.jpg Template:Sortname Maryland Template:Dts Template:Dts
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />12 File:Chester Harding - Benjamin Franklin Butler - 1963.172 - Dallas Museum of Art.jpg Template:Sortname New York Template:Dts Template:Dts
rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1837–1841)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />13 File:Felix Grundy.jpg Template:Sortname Tennessee Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />14 File:Henry D. Gilpin, Attorney General of the United States (trimmed).jpg Template:Sortname Pennsylvania Template:Dts Template:Dts
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |15 File:John Jordan Crittenden - Brady 1855.jpg Template:Sortname
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Kentucky Template:Dts Template:Dts style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1841)
rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1841–1845)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />16 File:Hugh S. Legaré.jpg Template:Sortname South Carolina Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |17 File:John Nelson, bw photo portrait, Brady-Handy collection, circa 1855-1865.jpg Template:Sortname Maryland Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />18 File:JYMason.jpg Template:Sortname Virginia Template:Dts Template:Dts rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1845–1849)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />19 File:NClifford.jpg Template:Sortname Maine Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />20 File:Isaac Toucey - Brady-Handy (cropped).jpg Template:Sortname Connecticut Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |21 File:Reverdy Johnson.jpg Template:Sortname Maryland Template:Dts Template:Dts style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1849–1850)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |22 File:John Jordan Crittenden - Brady 1855.jpg Template:Sortname
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(1850–1853)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />23 File:Caleb Cushing.jpg Template:Sortname Massachusetts Template:Dts Template:Dts style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1853–1857)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />24 File:JSBlack-AG.jpg Template:Sortname Pennsylvania Template:Dts Template:Dts rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1857–1861)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />25 File:Edwin McMasters Stanton Secretary of War.jpg Template:Sortname Pennsylvania Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />26 File:Edward Bates - Brady-Handy.jpg Template:Sortname Missouri Template:Dts Template:Dts rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1861–1865)
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />27 File:James Speed.jpg Template:Sortname Kentucky Template:Dts Template:Dts
rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1865–1869)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />28 File:Stanberry-AttorGen.jpg Template:Sortname Ohio Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />29 File:William M. Evarts - Brady-Handy.jpg Template:Sortname New York Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />30 File:EbenezerRHoar.jpg Template:Sortname Massachusetts Template:Dts Template:Dts rowspan=5 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1869–1877)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />31 File:Amos T Akerman - crop and minor retouch.jpg Template:Sortname Georgia Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />32 File:George Henry Williams - Brady-Handy - Restored & Cropped.jpg Template:Sortname Oregon Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />33 File:Edwards Pierrepont, Brady-Handy bw photo portrait, ca1865-1880.jpg Template:Sortname New York Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />34 File:Alphonso Taft - cropped and retouched.jpg Template:Sortname Ohio Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />35 File:Hon. Charles Devens of Mass. Atty Gen. Hayes Cabinet.png Template:Sortname Massachusetts Template:Dts Template:Dts style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1877–1881)
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />36 File:Wayne MacVeagh - Brady-Handy.jpg Template:Sortname Pennsylvania Template:Dts Template:Dts style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1881)
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1881–1885)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />37 File:BenjaminHBrewster.jpg Template:Sortname Pennsylvania Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />38 File:Augustus Hill Garland - Brady-Handy.jpg Template:Sortname Arkansas Template:Dts Template:Dts style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1885–1889)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />39 File:WHHMiller.jpg Template:Sortname Indiana Template:Dts Template:Dts style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1889–1893)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />40 File:Richard Olney, Bain bw photo portrait, 1913.jpg Template:Sortname Massachusetts Template:Dts Template:Dts rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1893–1897)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />41 File:Jud Harmon.jpg Template:Sortname Ohio Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />42 File:AssoJstcJMcK.jpg Template:Sortname California Template:Dts Template:Dts rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1897–1901)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />43 File:Griggs2.jpg Template:Sortname New Jersey Template:Dts Template:Dts
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />44 File:Philander Knox, bw photo portrait, 1904.jpg Template:Sortname Pennsylvania Template:Dts Template:Dts
rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1901–1909)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />45 File:WHMoody.jpg Template:Sortname Massachusetts Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />46 File:CJBonaparte.jpg Template:Sortname Maryland Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />47 File:GWWickersham.jpg Template:Sortname New York Template:Dts Template:Dts style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1909–1913)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />48 File:James C. McReynolds - c1913.jpg Template:Sortname Tennessee Template:Dts Template:Dts rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1913–1921)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />49 File:WP Thomas Watt Gregory.jpg Template:Sortname Texas Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />50 File:Alexander Mitchell Palmer.jpg Template:Sortname Pennsylvania Template:Dts Template:Dts
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />51 File:Harry Daugherty, bw photo portrait 1920.jpg Template:Sortname Ohio Template:Dts Template:Dts style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1921–1923)
rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1923–1929)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />52 File:Chief Justice Harlan Fiske Stone photograph circa 1927-1932.jpg Template:Sortname New York Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />53 File:John Sargent, Bain bw photo portrait.jpg Template:Sortname Vermont Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />54 File:William D. Mitchell cph.3b30394.jpg Template:Sortname Minnesota Template:Dts Template:Dts style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1929–1933)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />55 File:Homer Cummings, Harris & Ewing photo portrait, 1920.jpg Template:Sortname Connecticut Template:Dts Template:Dts rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1933–1945)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />56 File:Justice Frank Murphy.jpg Template:Sortname Michigan Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />57 File:Roberthjackson.jpg Template:Sortname New York Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />58 File:Francis Biddle cph.3b27524.jpg Template:Sortname Pennsylvania Template:Dts Template:Dts rowspan=4 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1945–1953)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />59 File:Official portrait of Associate Justice Tom C. Clark, Supreme Court of the United States (cropped).jpg Template:Sortname Texas Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />60 File:J. Howard McGrath.jpg Template:Sortname Rhode Island Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />61 File:James P McGranery cropped.jpg Template:Sortname Pennsylvania Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />62 File:Herbert Brownell.jpg Template:Sortname New York Template:Dts Template:Dts rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1953–1961)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />63 File:William P. Rogers, U.S. Secretary of State.jpg Template:Sortname New York Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" rowspan=2 |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />64 File:Bobby Kennedy - restored.jpg Template:Sortname Massachusetts Template:Dts Template:Dts style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1961–1963)
rowspan=5 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1963–1969)
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />65 File:Nicholas Katzenbach at White House, 6 May 1968.jpg Template:Sortname New Jersey Template:DtsTemplate:Efn Template:Dts
Template:Dts Template:Dts
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />66 File:Ramsey Clark at the White House, 28 Feb 1968.jpg Template:Sortname Texas Template:DtsTemplate:Efn Template:Dts
Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />67 File:John Mitchell.jpg Template:Sortname New York Template:Dts Template:Dts rowspan=6 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1969–1974)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />68 File:Attorney General Richard Kleindienst.jpg Template:Sortname Arizona Template:Dts Template:Dts[10]
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />69 File:ElliotLeeRichardson.jpg Template:Sortname Massachusetts Template:Dts[10] Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" /> File:William Ruckelshaus.jpg Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn
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rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1974–1977)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />71 File:Edward Levi Attorney General.jpg Template:Sortname Illinois Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" /> File:Noimage.svg Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn
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(1977–1981)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" /> File:Dick Thornburgh.jpg Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn
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style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />72 File:Griffin Bell -uglaw AG72 (cropped).tif Template:Sortname Georgia Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />73 File:Benjamin Civiletti (1979).jpg Template:Sortname Maryland Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" /> File:Noimage.svg Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn
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(1981–1989)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />74 File:Portrait officiel de William French Smith.jpg Template:Sortname California Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />75 File:Edwin Meese III Attorney General portrait (cropped1).jpg Template:Sortname California Template:Dts Template:Dts
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />76 File:Dick Thornburgh.jpg Template:Sortname Pennsylvania Template:Dts Template:Dts
rowspan=3 style="background: Template:Party color;" | Template:Sortname
(1989–1993)
rowspan=2 style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />77 File:William Barr, official photo as Attorney General.jpg Template:Sortname
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(1993–2001)
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style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />78 File:Janet Reno-us-Portrait.jpg Template:Sortname Florida Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" /> File:HolderEric.jpg Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn
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(2001–2009)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />79 File:John Ashcroft.jpg Template:Sortname Missouri Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />80 File:Alberto Gonzales - official DoJ photograph.jpg Template:Sortname Texas Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" /> File:Paul D. Clement.jpg Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn
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style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />81 File:Michael Mukasey, official AG photo portrait, 2007.jpg Template:Sortname New York Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" /> File:Mark Filip.jpg Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn
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(2009–2017)
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />82 File:Eric Holder official portrait (cropped).jpg Template:Sortname Washington, D.C. Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />83 File:Loretta Lynch, official portrait (cropped).jpg Template:Sortname New York Template:Dts Template:Dts
style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" /> File:Sally Q. Yates (cropped).jpg Template:SortnameTemplate:Efn
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(2017–2021)
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style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />84 File:Jeff Sessions, official portrait (cropped).jpg Template:Sortname Alabama Template:Dts Template:Dts
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(2021–2025)
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Washington, D.C. Template:Dts Template:Dts
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(2025–present)
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style="background: Template:Party color;" |<templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />87 File:PamBondiPressConferenceJune2025.jpg Template:Sortname Florida February 5, 2025 Incumbent

Line of succession

28 U.S.C. Template:Trim/Template:Trim § Template:Trim establishes the first two positions in the line of succession, while allowing the attorney general to designate other high-ranking officers of the Department of Justice as subsequent successors.[11] Furthermore, the most recent Executive Order pertaining to the line of succession, Executive Order 14136 titled "Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Justice" that was signed by President Joe Biden on January 3, 2025, and published in the Federal Register on January 13, 2025,[12] but was revoked by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025[13] and has yet to be replaced with another executive order pertaining to the line of succession, defines subsequent positions. The most recent line of succession was:

  1. United States Deputy Attorney General
  2. United States Associate Attorney General
  3. Other officers potentially designated by the attorney general (in no particular order):
  4. United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York
  5. United States Attorney for the District of Arizona
  6. United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois
  7. United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii

Notable figures

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

Template:Reflist

External links

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Preceded byas Secretary of Defense Template:S-bef/check Order of precedence of the United States
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Template:S-aft/check Succeeded byas Secretary of the Interior
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  4. Judiciary Act of 1789, section 35.
  5. Cabinets and Counselors: The President and the Executive Branch (1997). Congressional Quarterly. p. 87.
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