The Attorney General's Advisory Committee of United States Attorneys (AGAC), is a committee of the United States Department of Justice

United States Department of Justice

The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...

.

History

The creation of the committee was first announced in 1973 by Attorney General Elliot Richardson

Elliot Richardson

Elliot Lee Richardson was an American lawyer and politician who was a member of the cabinet of Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. As U.S...

. Attorney General Edward H. Levi

Edward H. Levi

Edward Hirsch Levi was an American academic leader, scholar, and statesman who served as United States Attorney General. He is regularly cited as the "model of a modern attorney general," the "greatest lawyer of his time," and considered, along with Yale's Whitney Griswold, the greatest of...

 defined its function formally by order dated February 13, 1976, setting its responsibilities forth in 28 C.F.R.

Code of Federal Regulations

The Code of Federal Regulations is the codification of the general and permanent rules and regulations published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government of the United States.The CFR is published by the Office of the Federal Register, an agency...

, Section 0.10.

Composition

"The Committee consists of 17 United States Attorneys selected by the Attorney General. They are intended to represent office size, judicial district, issues and diversity. Service on the Committee normally shall not exceed three years. New members are appointed each year to provide for broad representation of United States Attorneys nationwide. The Attorney General selects a chairperson and vice-chairperson. The Committee establishes such subcommittees as it deems necessary to carry out its functions."

Function

"The Advisory Committee has two functions. It gives United States Attorneys a voice in Department policies and advises the Attorney General of the United States.

In advising the Attorney General, the Committee conducts studies and makes recommendations to improve management of United States Attorney operations and the relationship between the Department and the federal prosecutors. It also helps formulate new programs for improvement of the criminal justice system and the delivery of legal services at all levels.

In serving the United States Attorneys, the Committee coordinates the collective efforts of the United States Attorneys with the divisions and agencies of the Department of Justice, and departments and agencies external to the Department of Justice. It also represents the United States Attorneys with the Department of Justice, other departments and agencies of the government, and occasionally private organizations."

Interpretation

"The Advisory Committee plays a vital role in furthering the Department's law enforcement efforts and gives U.S. Attorneys a key voice in Department policy. Together in partnership with state, local and federal authorities, the Advisory Committee is crucial in advancing the Department's efforts to battle terrorism and prosecute corporate fraud, as well as continue its law enforcement mission in areas such as civil rights, violent crime, and immigration".