Attorney General of California
The attorney general of California is the state attorney general of the Government of California. The officer's duty is to ensure that "the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced" (Constitution of California, Article V, Section 13). The California attorney general carries out the responsibilities of the office through the California Department of Justice. The department employs over 1,100 attorneys and 3,700 non-attorney employees.[citation needed]
| Attorney General of California | |
|---|---|
Seal of the attorney general of California | |
Flag of the State of California | |
| Department of Justice | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Term length | Four years, two term limit |
| Inaugural holder | Edward J. C. Kewen 1849 |
| Formation | California Constitution |
| Salary | $151,127 |
| Website | oag |
The California attorney general is elected to a four-year term, with a maximum of two terms. The election is held at the same statewide election as the governor, lieutenant governor, controller, secretary of state, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, and insurance commissioner. A few individual attorneys general have gone on to higher offices on the state and federal level, including the offices of governor, United States Senator, chief justice of the United States Supreme Court, and vice president of the United States.
On March 24, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he would be appointing Rob Bonta as attorney general to succeed Xavier Becerra, who resigned from the position to become Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden. Bonta's appointment was subject to confirmation by both houses of the California State Legislature, and he was sworn in on April 23, 2021.[1][2][3]
Duties edit
According to the state Constitution, the Code of Civil Procedure, and the Government Code, the attorney general:
- As the state's chief law officer, ensures that the laws of the state are uniformly and adequately enforced.[4]
- Heads the Department of Justice, which is responsible for providing state legal services and support for local law enforcement.[5]
- Acts as the chief counsel in state litigation.[6]
- Oversees law enforcement agencies, including district attorneys and sheriffs.[4]
History edit
Although the office of attorney general dates to the admission of California to the Union, the office in its modern form dates to Proposition 4 of 1934,[7] sponsored by Alameda County District Attorney Earl Warren as one of four initiatives he sponsored to substantially reform law enforcement and the judiciary. Previously, the attorney general lacked jurisdiction over matters in the jurisdiction of locally elected district attorneys and sheriffs.[8] Warren went on to become attorney general himself in 1938, reorganizing's the state's law enforcement into districts.
Under Robert W. Kenny, the office was complicit in the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, a position it has since apologized for.[9]
Diversity edit
- Stanley Mosk was the first adherent of Judaism to hold the office.[10]
- George Deukmejian was the first Armenian American to hold the office.
- Kamala Harris was the first woman, the first Asian American, and the first African American to hold the office.[11]
- Xavier Becerra was the first Latino to hold the office.[12]
- Rob Bonta is the first Filipino American to hold the office.[13]
List of attorneys general of California edit
| No. | Portrait | Name | Party | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edward J. C. Kewen | Democratic | 1849 – 1850 | ||
| 2 | James A. McDougall | Democratic | 1850 – 1851 | ||
| 3 | Serranus C. Hastings | Democratic | January 5, 1852 – January 2, 1854 | ||
| 4 | John R. McConnell | Democratic | 1854 – 1856 | ||
| 5 | William M. Stewart | Democratic | June 7, 1853 – December 1853 (acting) | ||
| 6 | William T. Wallace | American | January 1856 – January 1858 | ||
| 7 | Thomas H. Williams | Democratic | 1858 – 1862 | ||
| 8 | Frank M. Pixley | Republican | 1862 – 1863 | ||
| 9 | John G. McCullough | Republican | 1863 – 1867 | ||
| 10 | Jo Hamilton | Democratic | December 5, 1867 – December 8, 1871 | ||
| 11 | John L. Love | Republican | 1871 – 1875 | ||
| 12 | Jo Hamilton | Democratic | December 9, 1875 – January 8, 1880 | ||
| 13 | Augustus L. Hart | Republican | January 8, 1880 – January 10, 1883 | ||
| 14 | Edward C. Marshall | Democratic | January 10, 1883 – January 8, 1887 | ||
| 15 | George A. Johnson | Democratic | January 8, 1887 – January 8, 1891 | ||
| 16 | William H. H. Hart | Republican | January 8, 1891 – January 11, 1895 | ||
| 17 | William F. Fitzgerald | Republican | January 7, 1895 – January 2, 1899 | ||
| 18 | Tirey L. Ford | Republican | January 4, 1899 – September 14, 1902 | ||
| 19 | Ulysses S. Webb | Republican | September 15, 1902 – January 3, 1939 | ||
| 20 | Earl Warren | Republican | January 3, 1939 – January 4, 1943 | ||
| 21 | Robert W. Kenny | Democratic | January 4, 1943 – January 5, 1947 | ||
| 22 | Frederick N. Howser | Republican | January 5, 1947 – January 8, 1951 | ||
| 23 | Pat Brown | Democratic | January 8, 1951 – January 5, 1959 | ||
| 24 | Stanley Mosk | Democratic | January 5, 1959 – August 31, 1964 | ||
| 25 | Thomas C. Lynch | Democratic | August 31, 1964 – January 4, 1971 | ||
| 26 | Evelle J. Younger | Republican | January 4, 1971 – January 8, 1979 | ||
| 27 | George Deukmejian | Republican | January 8, 1979 – January 3, 1983 | ||
| 28 | John Van de Kamp | Democratic | January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1991 | ||
| 29 | Dan Lungren | Republican | January 7, 1991 – January 4, 1999 | ||
| 30 | Bill Lockyer | Democratic | January 4, 1999 – January 8, 2007 | ||
| 31 | Jerry Brown | Democratic | January 8, 2007 – January 3, 2011 | ||
| 32 | Kamala Harris | Democratic | January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2017 | ||
| 33 | Xavier Becerra | Democratic | January 24, 2017 – March 18, 2021 | ||
| 34 | Rob Bonta | Democratic | April 23, 2021 – Incumbent | ||
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Rob Bonta, Bay Area Democratic lawmaker, appointed California attorney general". Los Angeles Times. March 24, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ^ Hubler, Shawn (March 24, 2021). "Rob Bonta, an Asian-American Progressive, Is Named Attorney General in California". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- ^ "Attorney General Rob Bonta". State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General. December 21, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
- ^ a b California Constitution, Article V, Section 13 January 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ California Government Code §15000
- ^ California Code of Civil Procedure §401
- ^ "History of Initiative and Referendum in California". Retrieved September 10, 2018.
- ^ "Proposition 4 (1934)". Propositions. January 1934.
- ^ Reports, Rafu (August 15, 2023). "Bonta Issues Apology Acknowledging Complicity of State Attorney General's Office in Incarceration of JAs". Rafu Shimpo. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
- ^ Thurber, Jon; Dolan, Maura (June 20, 2001). "Stanley Mosk, State's Senior Justice, Dies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ Dick, Jason (August 12, 2020). "'It's just history': Kamala Harris as the VP nominee". CQ Roll Call. FiscalNote. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Attorney General Xavier Becerra". Office of the Attorney General. State of California Department of Justice. December 21, 2010. from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
- ^ "Governor Newsom Swears in Rob Bonta as Attorney General of California". Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. April 23, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
External links edit
- Official website
- California Attorney General articles at ABA Journal
- News and Commentary at FindLaw