The attorney general of New York is the chief legal officer of the U.S. state of New York and head of the Department of Law of the

state government A state government is the government that controls a subdivision of a country in a federal form of government, which shares political power with the federal or national government. A state government may have some level of political autonom ...

. The office has existed in various forms since 1626, originally established under the Dutch colonial government of New Netherland. New York's attorney general is the highest-paid state attorney general in the country. Democrat Letitia James currently serves as attorney general, in office since January 1, 2019.

Functions

The attorney general advises the executive branch of state government as well as defends actions and brings proceedings on its behalf. The attorney general acts independently of the

governor of New York The governor of New York is the head of government of the U.S. state of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor ...

. The department's regulations are compiled in title 13 of the ''

New York Codes, Rules and Regulations The ''New York Codes, Rules and Regulations'' (NYCRR) contains New York state rules and regulations. The NYCRR is officially compiled by the New York State Department of State's Division of Administrative Rules. Contents See also * '' New Yor ...

'' (NYCRR).

Organization

The legal functions of the Department of Law are divided primarily into five major divisions: Appeals and Opinions, State Counsel, Criminal Justice, Economic Justice and Social Justice.

Chief deputy attorney general

* Harlan LevySchneiderman Fills Six Top Posts
''NY Law Journal.com'', 23 December 2010, Stashenko, J., Retrieved 1 November 2013. (2011–2015)

Solicitors General

* Ruth Kessler Toch (1966–1979) * Shirley Adelson Siegel (1979–1982) * Robert Hermann (1983–1986) * O. Peter Sherwood (1986–1991) * Jerry Boone (1991–1994) * Victoria A. Graffeo (1995–1996) * Barbara Gott Billet (1996–1998)New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Barbara G. Billet
, ''FreedomSpeaks.com'', Retrieved 1 November 2013. * Preeta D. Bansal (1999–2001) * Caitlin Halligan (2001–2007) * Barbara D. Underwood (2007–present)

Terms of office

* From 1684 to 1777, when New York was under the British colonial government, the attorney general was appointed by the

British crown The Crown is a political concept used in Commonwealth realms. Depending on the context used, it generally refers to the entirety of the State (polity), state (or in federal realms, the relevant level of government in that state), the executive ...

, or the colonial governor on its behalf. In 1693, the attorney general earned a salary of 50 pounds. * From 1777 to 1822, the attorney general was appointed by the Council of Appointment. * From 1823 to 1846, the attorney general was elected by the

New York State Legislature The New York State Legislature consists of the Bicameralism, two houses that act as the State legislature (United States), state legislature of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York: the New York State Senate and the New York State Assem ...

for a three-year term. * Attorneys general have been elected by the voters since 1847.

List of attorneys general of New York

Province of New York (1684–1776)

New York State (1777–present)

References

External links

*
Department of Law
in the

New York Attorney General
articles at ''ABA Journal''

at

FindLaw FindLaw is a business of Internet Brands that provides online legal information in the form of state laws, case law and codes, legal blogs and articles, a lawyer directory, DIY legal services and products, and other legal resources. The compa ...

New York Consolidated Laws
at Law.Justia.com
U.S. Supreme Court Opinions - "Cases with title containing: State of New York"
at

New York State Bar Association

Press releases
at New York Attorney General {{U.S. state attorneys general 1626 establishments in the Dutch Empire New York (state) law-related lists