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California Attorney General
Head of the California Department of Justice
Head of the California Department of Justice
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| post | Attorney General of California |
| insignia | CA-DOJ-LOGO.png |
| insigniasize | 120 |
| insigniacaption | Seal of the attorney general of California |
| flag | Flag of California.svg |
| flagsize | 135 |
| flagborder | yes |
| flagcaption | State flag |
| image | File:Rob Bonta official portrait (cropped).jpg |
| incumbent | Rob Bonta |
| incumbentsince | April 23, 2021 |
| department | Government of California |
| Department of Justice | |
| style | The Honorable |
| termlength | Four years, two-term limit |
| salary | $210,460 |
| formation | California Constitution |
| succession | Fifth |
| inaugural | Edward J. C. Kewen |
| 1849 | |
| website |
Department of Justice 1849
The attorney general of California is the state attorney general of the government of California. The officer must 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.
The California attorney general is elected to a four-year term, with a maximum of two terms. The election is held during the same statewide election for the governor and other state offices. Several attorneys general have gone on to higher office or office on the 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.
Duties
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.
- Heads the Department of Justice, which is responsible for providing state legal services and support for local law enforcement.
- Acts as the chief counsel in state litigation.
- Oversees law enforcement agencies, including district attorneys and sheriffs.
History
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, 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. 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.
Diversity
- Stanley Mosk was the first adherent of Judaism to hold the office.
- George Deukmejian was the first Armenian American to hold the office.
- Kamala Harris was the first woman, the first African American, the first Asian American and the first West Indian American to hold the office.
- Xavier Becerra was the first Latino to hold the office.
- Rob Bonta is the first Filipino American to hold the office.
List of attorneys general of California
| No. | Portrait | Name | Party | Term | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [[File:Kewen.jpg | 80px]] | Edward J. C. Kewen | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | 1849 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1850 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:James A. McDougall.jpg | 80px]] | James A. McDougall | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | 1850 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1851 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Serranus Clinton Hastings by John Chester Buttre (1).jpeg | 80px]] | Serranus C. Hastings | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | January 5, 1852 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 2, 1854 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:John R. McConnell.jpg | 80px]] | John R. McConnell | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | 1854 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1856 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:William M. Stewart - Brady-Handy (cropped).jpg | 80px]] | William M. Stewart | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | June 7, 1853 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 1853 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (acting) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:William T. Wallace (1).jpg | 80px]] | William T. Wallace | Know Nothing}}" | American | January 1856 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 1858 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Thomas H. Williams.jpg | 80px]] | Thomas H. Williams | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | 1858 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1862 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Frank Morrison Pixley (cropped).jpg | 80px]] | Frank M. Pixley | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | 1862 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1863 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:John G McCullough.jpg | 80px]] | John G. McCullough | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | 1863 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1867 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Jo Hamilton 1 (a).jpg | 80px]] | Jo Hamilton | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | December 5, 1867 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 8, 1871 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:John Love 11th Attorney General of California (1).jpg | 80px]] | John L. Love | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | December 8, 1871 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 9, 1875 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Jo Hamilton 1 (a).jpg | 80px]] | Jo Hamilton | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | December 9, 1875 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 8, 1880 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:August L. Hart (1).jpg | 80px]] | Augustus L. Hart | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | January 8, 1880 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 10, 1883 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Edward-C-Marshall.jpg | 80px]] | Edward C. Marshall | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | January 10, 1883 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 8, 1887 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:George A. Johnson (1).jpg | 80px]] | George A. Johnson | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | January 8, 1887 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 8, 1891 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:William H. Hart.jpg | 80px]] | William H. H. Hart | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | January 8, 1891 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 11, 1895 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:William Francis Fitzgerald.jpg | 80px]] | William F. Fitzgerald | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | January 7, 1895 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 2, 1899 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Tirey L. Ford 1912.jpg | 80px]] | Tirey L. Ford | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | January 4, 1899 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 14, 1902 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Ulysses Siegel Webb Crop.jpg | 80px]] | Ulysses S. Webb | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | September 15, 1902 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 3, 1939 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Earl Warren 1944.jpg | 80px]] | Earl Warren | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | January 3, 1939 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 4, 1943 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Robert Walker Kenny Trim.jpg | 80px]] | Robert W. Kenny | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | January 4, 1943 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 5, 1947 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Frederick N. Howser, 1943.jpg | 80px]] | Frederick N. Howser | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | January 5, 1947 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 8, 1951 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Pat Brown, 1954.jpg | 80px]] | Pat Brown | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | January 8, 1951 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 5, 1959 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Stanley Mosk, 1963.jpg | 80px]] | Stanley Mosk | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | January 5, 1959 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 31, 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Thomas C. Lynch, 1967.jpg | 80px]] | Thomas C. Lynch | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | August 31, 1964 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 4, 1971 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Evelle J. Younger, 1971.jpg | 80px]] | Evelle J. Younger | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | January 4, 1971 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 8, 1979 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:George Deukmejian, 1975.jpg | 80px]] | George Deukmejian | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | January 8, 1979 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 3, 1983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:John Van de Kamp (1).jpg | 80px]] | John Van de Kamp | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | January 3, 1983 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 7, 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Dan Lungren (3x4a).jpg | 80px]] | Dan Lungren | Republican Party (United States)}}" | Republican | January 7, 1991 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 4, 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Bill-Lockyer.jpg | 80px]] | Bill Lockyer | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | January 4, 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 8, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Edmund G Brown Jr (3x4).jpg | 80px]] | Jerry Brown | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | January 8, 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 3, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Kamala Harris Official Attorney General Photo (cropped).jpg | 80px]] | Kamala Harris | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | January 3, 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 3, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Xavier Becerra official portrait (cropped).jpg | 80px]] | Xavier Becerra | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | January 24, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 18, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Rob Bonta official portrait (cropped).jpg | 101x101px]] | Rob Bonta | Democratic Party (United States)}}" | Democratic | April 23, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Incumbent |
References
References
- (2021-03-24). "Rob Bonta, Bay Area Democratic lawmaker, appointed California attorney general".
- Hubler, Shawn. (2021-03-24). "Rob Bonta, an Asian-American Progressive, Is Named Attorney General in California". The New York Times.
- (2010-12-21). "Attorney General Rob Bonta".
- link. (January 8, 2011)
- [https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=15000.&lawCode=GOV California Government Code §15000]
- [https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CCP§ionNum=401. California Code of Civil Procedure §401]
- "History of Initiative and Referendum in California".
- (January 1934). "Proposition 4 (1934)". Propositions.
- Reports, Rafu. (2023-08-15). "Bonta Issues Apology Acknowledging Complicity of State Attorney General’s Office in Incarceration of JAs".
- (June 20, 2001). "Stanley Mosk, State's Senior Justice, Dies".
- Dick, Jason. (August 12, 2020). "'It's just history': Kamala Harris as the VP nominee". FiscalNote.
- (December 21, 2010). "Attorney General Xavier Becerra". State of California Department of Justice.
- (April 23, 2021). "Governor Newsom Swears in Rob Bonta as Attorney General of California". Office of Governor Gavin Newsom.
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