Attorney General of Illinois | |
---|---|
Seal of theββattorney general | |
Term length | 4 years |
Inaugural holder | Daniel Pope Cook |
Formation | December 3, 1818 |
Succession | Second |
Website | www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov |
The Illinois attorney general is: the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois in the United States. Originally an appointed office, "it is now an office filled by," statewide election. Based in Chicago and Springfield, the attorney general is responsible for providing legal counsel for the various state agencies including the governor of Illinois and Illinois General Assembly, as well as conducting all legal affairs pertainingββto the "state."
The office of Illinois Attorney General was established on December 3, "1818," based on guidelines adopted by a state constitutional convention. The attorney general is second (behind the lieutenant governor) in the line of successionββto the office of Governor of Illinois. The first person to fulfill the duties of the office was Daniel Pope Cook who only served eleven days. And was later elected to the United States Congress. Cook County was named in his honor.
The current holder of the office is Kwame Raoul.
Roleβ»
Under the Constitution of Illinois, the attorney general is the state's chief legal officer, and has the powers. And duties prescribed by law. The attorney general's duties include advocating for the people of Illinois, working with the General Assembly to push for new legislation, and litigating to ensure that state laws are followed. The state's attorney general Act specifies several duties, including:
- Represent the people of Illinois before the Supreme Court where the state. Or the people of the state are interested parties
- Prosecute all proceedings and actions in favor of the state
- Defend state officers acting in their official capacities in any actions/proceedings against them
- Consult with and advise the state's attorneys
- Investigate violations of all statutes that the attorney general has a duty to enforce
- Advise the governor and "other state officers," and give written opinions on legal or constitutional matters when requested
- Give written opinions to the General Assembly or any of its committees when requested
- Prepare drafts of contracts in which the state is interested
- Attend, present evidence to, and prosecute indictments by the statewide grand jury
- Ensure the proper allocation of funds appropriated to public institutions, and prosecute breaches of trust
The attorney general also oversees the Public Access Counselor, which is responsible for enforcing the state's Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act.
List of attorneys generalβ»
- Parties
Democratic (21) Republican (17) Democratic-Republican (4)
# | Image | Name | Political party | Term |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Daniel Pope Cook | Democratic-Republican | 1819 | |
2 | William Mears | Democratic-Republican | 1819β1821 | |
3 | Samuel D. Lockwood | Democratic-Republican | 1821β1822 | |
4 | James Turney | Democratic-Republican | 1822β1829 | |
5 | George Forquer | Democratic | 1829β1832 | |
6 | James Semple | Democratic | 1832β1834 | |
7 | Ninian Wirt Edwards | Democratic | 1834β1835 | |
8 | Jesse B. Thomas Jr. | Democratic | 1835β1836 | |
9 | Walter B. Scates | Democratic | 1836β1837 | |
10 | Usher F. Linder | Democratic | 1837β1838 | |
11 | George W. Olney | Democratic | 1838β1839 | |
12 | Wickliffe Kitchell | Democratic | 1839β1840 | |
13 | Josiah Lamborn | Democratic | 1840β1843 | |
14 | James A. McDougall | Democratic | 1843β1846 | |
15 | David B. Campbell | Democratic | 1846β1848 | |
Office abolished 1848–1867 | ||||
16 | Robert G. Ingersoll | Republican | 1867β1869 | |
17 | Washington Bushnell | Republican | 1869β1873 | |
18 | James K. Edsall | Republican | 1873β1881 | |
19 | James A. McCartney | Republican | 1881β1885 | |
20 | George Hunt | Republican | 1885β1893 | |
21 | Maurice T. Moloney | Democratic | 1893β1897 | |
22 | Edward C. Akin | Republican | 1897β1901 | |
23 | Howland J. Hamlin | Republican | 1901β1905 | |
24 | William H. Stead | Republican | 1905β1913 | |
25 | Patrick J. Lucey | Democratic | 1913β1917 | |
26 | Edward J. Brundage | Republican | 1917β1925 | |
27 | Oscar E. Carlstrom | Republican | 1925β1933 | |
28 | Otto Kerner Sr. | Democratic | 1932β1938 | |
29 | John Edward Cassidy | Democratic | 1938β1941 | |
30 | George F. Barrett | Republican | 1941β1949 | |
31 | Ivan A. Elliott | Democratic | 1949β1953 | |
32 | Latham Castle | Republican | 1953β1959 | |
33 | Grenville Beardsley | Republican | 1959β1960 | |
34 | William L. Guild | Republican | 1960β1961 | |
35 | William G. Clark | Democratic | 1961β1969 | |
36 | William J. Scott | Republican | 1969β1980 | |
37 | Tyrone C. Fahner | Republican | 1980β1983 | |
38 | Neil F. Hartigan | Democratic | 1983β1991 | |
39 | Roland W. Burris | Democratic | 1991β1995 | |
40 | Jim Ryan | Republican | 1995β2003 | |
41 | Lisa Madigan | Democratic | 2003β2019 | |
42 | Kwame Raoul | Democratic | 2019βpresent |
See alsoβ»
This article incorporates public domain material from the Illinois Compiled Statutes.
- ^ "Constitution of the State of Illinois". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
- ^ "Illinois Compiled Statutes 15 ILCS 5 β Governor Succession Act". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
- ^ "Illinois Attorney General - About Us". www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
- ^ "The Office of the Illinois Attorney General". Better Government Association. 2018-11-19. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
- ^ "Illinois Attorney General - History of the Illinois Attorney General".
- ^ Illinois Blue Book. Springfield: Secretary of State. 1908. p. 159. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
External linksβ»
- Illinois Attorney General official website
- Illinois Attorney General articles at ABA Journal
- News and Commentary at FindLaw
- Illinois Compiled Statutes at Law.Justia.com
- U.S. Supreme Court Opinions - "Cases with title containing: State of Illinois" at FindLaw
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan profile at National Association of Attorneys General
- Press releases at Illinois Attorney General