Arizona Attorney General

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 ten years and an Arizona resident for five years.

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, 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.

Powers and duties

While the 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. In pursuance of this constitutional mandate, the Arizona Legislature has prescribed that, under A.R.S. §41-193(A)(1) – § 41-193(A)(8), the attorney general of Arizona, through the Arizona Department of Law, shall:

1. 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);
2. 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);
3. Represent the state in any action in a federal court ~ A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(3);
4. Exercise supervisory powers over county attorneys ~ A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(4);
5. Under certain conditions, assist any county attorney in the discharge of their duties ~ A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(5);
6. Maintain a docket of all proceedings in which the attorney general is required to appear ~ A.R.S. §41-193(A)(6);
7. Issue attorney general opinions on questions of law to state officers and agencies ~ A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(7); and
8. Perform other duties prescribed by law ~ A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(8).

Arizona Attorneys General

[[Arizona Territory]]

State of Arizona

;Parties

References

References

1. "A.R.S. §41-193 {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties". State of Arizona.
2. "Constitution of Arizona: Article V, Section 6". [[Arizona Legislature]].
3. "A.R.S. §41-192 {{!}} Powers and duties of attorney general; restrictions on state agencies as to legal counsel; exceptions; compromise and settlement monies". State of Arizona.
4. "About the Office of Attorney General". State of Arizona.
5. (January 14, 2019). "Arizona Attorney General's Office {{!}} AGO Organization". State of Arizona.
6. "Arizona Constitution, article 5, section 2". State of Arizona.
7. "A.R.S. §41-191(A) {{!}} Attorney general; qualifications; salary; assistants; fees; exceptions; outside counsel". State of Arizona.
8. "State ex rel. Sawyer v. LaSota, 119 Ariz. 253 (1978)". Free Law Project.
9. "Arizona Constitution, Article V, §9". State of Arizona.
10. "A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(1) {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties". State of Arizona.
11. "A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(2) {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties". State of Arizona.
12. "A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(3) {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties". State of Arizona.
13. "A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(4) {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties". State of Arizona.
14. "A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(5) {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties". State of Arizona.
15. "A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(6) {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties". State of Arizona.
16. "A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(7) {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties". State of Arizona.
17. "A.R.S. § 41-193(A)(8) {{!}} Department of law; composition; powers and duties". State of Arizona.