Pennsylvania Attorney General

Authority and responsibilities

The Commonwealth Attorneys Act of 1980 established the Office of Attorney General as an independent office headed by an elected attorney general. The office has the responsibility for the prosecution of those crimes prosecuted by the commonwealth, including organized crime and public corruption, as well as civil litigation on behalf of some, but not all, commonwealth agencies and the civil enforcement of some commonwealth laws, including laws pertaining to consumer protection and charities. The attorney general may act on behalf of consumers to issue cease and desist orders. The attorney general represents the commonwealth in all actions brought by or against the commonwealth and reviews all proposed rules and regulations by commonwealth agencies.

The attorney general also serves on the Board of Pardons, the joint Committee on Documents, the Hazardous Substances Transportation Board, the Board of Finance and Revenue, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the Civil Disorder Commission, and the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission.

List of attorneys general

There have been four styles of selection for the Pennsylvania attorney general. The first phase was colonial, with the first attorney general commissioned in 1683. At the outbreak of the Revolution, the sitting attorney general, a loyalist, fled, and new attorneys general were appointed, under the Constitution of 1776, by the state president (or vice-president) with the Supreme Executive Council. Under the new constitution of 1790, attorneys general were appointed by the governor, subject to approval by the legislature (similar to how the United States Attorney General is appointed by the president of the United States). This remained in the Constitutions of 1838, 1874, and 1968. In 1978, voters approved an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution making the office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General an elected position, effective as of the general election of 1980.

Note that before William Penn, there were attorneys general for New Sweden as early as 1643.

Colonial attorneys general

Under the influence of David Lloyd, who served 1686–1710, Pennsylvania developed its first judicial system. Andrew Hamilton, who served 1717–1726, strongly influenced Pennsylvania law away from some aspects of the British system.

• John White
• Samuel Hersent
• John White
• David Lloyd
• John Moore
• Robert Assheton
• Paromlus Parmyter
• George Lowther
• Thomas Clarke
• Robert Quarry
• Henry Wilson
• Andrew Hamilton
• Joseph Growden Jr.
• John Kinsey
• Tench Francis Sr.
• Benjamin Chew
• Andrew Allen

President/Council appointed attorneys general

Attorneys general appointed between 1791 and 1920

Attorneys general appointed between 1920 and 1980

Occupants of the elected Pennsylvania Attorney General office (1981–present)

References

References

1. Penn. Const. Art. 4, § 4.1
2. (16 August 2016). "Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane Found Guilty on All Charges in Perjury Trial". Associated Press.
3. (16 August 2016). "Pennsylvania's Attorney General Is Convicted on All Counts". New York Times.
4. (August 16, 2016). "Pennsylvania attorney general resigning". cnn.com.
5. Bumsted, Brad, (19 July 2016), "[http://articles.philly.com/2016-09-01/news/75233953_1_attorney-general-former-top-state-prosecutor-kane Castor Next In Line to Be Pennsylvania Attorney General]{{dead link. (October 2024)
6. 71 P. S. §732-101
7. [http://www.oit.state.pa.us/ogc/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=99956 OGC: Commonwealth Attorneys Act]
8. "Total Home Protection To Pay $400K In Restitution, Revise Business Practices".
9. "It's All in the Family; AG Shapiro Nabs 2nd Scam Company in Seruya Family".
10. "The Office: Attorney General Tom Corbett - Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General".
11. "History of the Office of Attorney General".
12. Morris was Clerk of the General Assembly
13. (1858). "Pennsylvania Archives".
14. Bradford accepted state Supreme Court appointment
15. Franklin accepted state judicial appointment
16. Smith accepted a position as Justice on the state Supreme Court
17. Lewis accepted a position as President Judge of the Eighth Judicial District
18. See article for citations regarding the dates.
19. Todd accepted a Philadelphia judicial appointment.
20. This is the date of his judicial commission; there is no date listed in ''The Pennsylvania Manual''.
21. Kane accepted a federal judiciary appointment.
22. Campbell accepted the position of U. S. Postmaster General.
23. Resigned
24. (November 1, 1930). "Schnader Takes Oath". [[Chester Times]].
25. (January 14, 1935). "Forms Law Firm". [[Chester Times]].
26. (1939). "Official Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania for the Years 1937 and 1938". Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
27. (January 18, 1939). "14 New Cabinet Members Safe; Two Are Held Up". [[Chester Times]].
28. (December 31, 1942). "Harrisburg Man to Fill Reno's Place; E. Russel Shockley Is New Attorney General". [[New Castle News]].
29. Jones, John E.. (January 14, 1943). "Martin Picks Duff, Neel For Cabinet". [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]].
30. (January 22, 1947). "Blast Chesnut, Wilhelm, Smock Appointments". [[Chester Times]].
31. (July 5, 1950). "Margiotti To Send Aide to Job Probe". [[Pittsburgh Press]].
32. "Office of Attorney General". [[Pennsylvania Department of State]].
33. (March 3, 1951). "Margiotti Bows Out Of Cabinet". [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]].
34. (1954). "Official Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania for the Years 1953 and 1954". Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
35. (1956). "Official Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania for the Years 1955 and 1956". Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
36. (December 16, 1958). "McBride Resigns To Take Court Seat". The Beaver County Times.
37. (1962). "Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania: 1961–1962". Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
38. (1966). "Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania: 1963–1966". Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
39. {{Cite court. (1974). link
40. (January 2, 1973). "2 Crime Unit Members Ousted In Pennsylvania". [[Toledo Blade]].
41. Taylor, John. (September 6, 1973). "Probe Centers on Free Booze Charge". [[Pittsburgh Press]].
42. (December 27, 1974). "Shapp Names Kane As New Attorney General". [[The News-Dispatch]].
43. (June 8, 1978). "Gerald Gornish Takes Attorney General Post". [[Observer–Reporter]].
44. Jensen, Edward. (January 21, 1981). "Three state officials take oaths of office". [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]].
45. (January 18, 1989). "Casey welcomes Knoll, Hafer, Preate to office". [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]].
46. Moran, Robert. (June 24, 1995). "Preate Is Gone But Not Quite Forgotten The Attorney General's Resignation Became Official Yesterday". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
47. Forester, John D. Jr.. (October 4, 1995). "Corbett sworn in, pledges review of probe". [[Reading Eagle]].
48. Ove, Torsten. (December 16, 2004). "Fisher sworn in as federal judge". [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]].
49. (January 18, 2011). "Corbett promises fiscal discipline, responsible government as he takes oath". [[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]].
50. (May 27, 2011). "Linda L. Kelly becomes Pennsylvania Attorney General". Pennsylvania Attorney General.
51. Olson, Laura. (January 15, 2013). "Three Democratic row officers sworn in". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.