North Carolina attorney general
Encyclopedia
The Attorney General
of North Carolina
is the head of the state's Department of Justice and provides legal representation and advice to all state agencies. He or she does not have the authority to prosecute specific crimes unless requested to do so by a local district attorney. http://www.ncdoj.com/about/about_ag_duties.jsp In the public interest, the Attorney General may intervene in proceedings before any courts, regulatory officers, agencies or bodies — either state or federal — on behalf of the consuming public of the state. The Attorney General also renders legal opinions, either formally or informally, upon all questions of law submitted by the General Assembly, the Governor or any other state officer.
The current Attorney General is Roy A. Cooper
.
The Attorney General is elected by the people to a four-year term. There is no limit on the number of terms a person may serve in the office.
was appointed by Governor John Jenkins
. In theory, colonial Attorneys General represented the British Attorney General, who represented the Crown.
The first North Carolina Constitution
(1776) established the office of state Attorney General. Like the state Governor, the Attorney General was at that time elected by the legislature, the North Carolina General Assembly
. The first Attorney General for the independent state of North Carolina was Waightstill Avery
, who served from 1777 to 1779. Two of Avery's successors, James Iredell
and Alfred Moore
, both served on the United States Supreme Court. Since 1868, the Attorney General has been elected by the people. The state Department of Justice was created by the legislature in the early 1970s. At the same time, the Attorney General became a voting member of the Council of State, rather than the legal advisor to the council.
Before being elected the state's Governor, Mike Easley
was Attorney General of North Carolina from 1993 to 2001. Occupants of the office often run for Governor of North Carolina
or United States Senator, but few have been successful, with notable exceptions including Easley and Senator Robert B. Morgan.
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
is the head of the state's Department of Justice and provides legal representation and advice to all state agencies. He or she does not have the authority to prosecute specific crimes unless requested to do so by a local district attorney. http://www.ncdoj.com/about/about_ag_duties.jsp In the public interest, the Attorney General may intervene in proceedings before any courts, regulatory officers, agencies or bodies — either state or federal — on behalf of the consuming public of the state. The Attorney General also renders legal opinions, either formally or informally, upon all questions of law submitted by the General Assembly, the Governor or any other state officer.
The current Attorney General is Roy A. Cooper
Roy A. Cooper
Roy Asberry Cooper, III is the current North Carolina Attorney General. He is a member of the North Carolina Democratic Party.-Personal life and education:...
.
The Attorney General is elected by the people to a four-year term. There is no limit on the number of terms a person may serve in the office.
History
The title "Attorney General" was used in colonial North Carolina as early as 1677, when George DurantGeorge Durant
George Durant was an attorney, Attorney General and Speaker of the House of Burgesses in the Province of Carolina. He is sometimes credited as being the "father of North Carolina"....
was appointed by Governor John Jenkins
John Jenkins (governor)
John Jenkins was governor of Albemarle three times, in 1672–1675, 1676–1677, and 1680–1681.Governor John Jenkins, immigrant, was born in England and died in Perquimas County, North Carolina, 17 December 1661. He went to America in or before 1662 and originally settled in Warwick Square,...
. In theory, colonial Attorneys General represented the British Attorney General, who represented the Crown.
The first North Carolina Constitution
North Carolina Constitution
The Constitution of the State of North Carolina governs the structure and function of the state government of North Carolina, United States; it is the highest legal document for the state and subjugates North Carolina law...
(1776) established the office of state Attorney General. Like the state Governor, the Attorney General was at that time elected by the legislature, the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
. The first Attorney General for the independent state of North Carolina was Waightstill Avery
Waightstill Avery
Waightstill Avery was an early American lawyer and soldier. He is noted for fighting a duel with future U.S...
, who served from 1777 to 1779. Two of Avery's successors, James Iredell
James Iredell
James Iredell was one of the first Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was appointed by President George Washington and served from 1790 until his death in 1799...
and Alfred Moore
Alfred Moore
Alfred Moore was a distinguished North Carolina judge who became a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Moore Square, a park located in the Moore Square Historic District in Raleigh, North Carolina was named in his honor. Moore was buried at the St...
, both served on the United States Supreme Court. Since 1868, the Attorney General has been elected by the people. The state Department of Justice was created by the legislature in the early 1970s. At the same time, the Attorney General became a voting member of the Council of State, rather than the legal advisor to the council.
Before being elected the state's Governor, Mike Easley
Mike Easley
Michael Francis "Mike" Easley is an American politician who served as the 72nd Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina, from 2001 to 2009. He is member of the North Carolina Democratic Party and became the first North Carolina governor to admit to a felony in a deal that halted a lengthy...
was Attorney General of North Carolina from 1993 to 2001. Occupants of the office often run for Governor of North Carolina
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
or United States Senator, but few have been successful, with notable exceptions including Easley and Senator Robert B. Morgan.
List of Attorneys General of North Carolina
- Waightstill AveryWaightstill AveryWaightstill Avery was an early American lawyer and soldier. He is noted for fighting a duel with future U.S...
, 1777-79 - James IredellJames IredellJames Iredell was one of the first Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was appointed by President George Washington and served from 1790 until his death in 1799...
, 1779-82 - Alfred MooreAlfred MooreAlfred Moore was a distinguished North Carolina judge who became a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Moore Square, a park located in the Moore Square Historic District in Raleigh, North Carolina was named in his honor. Moore was buried at the St...
, 1782-91 - John Haywood, 1792-95
- Blake Baker, 1795-1803
- Henry Seawell, 1803-08
- Oliver Fitts, 1808-10
- William MillerWilliam Miller (North Carolina)William Miller was the 18th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1814 to 1817.Born in Warren County, North Carolina, William Miller was orphaned at the age of 22 and inherited a substantial plantation. He briefly attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1802, but...
, 1810 - Hutchins Gordon BurtonHutchins Gordon BurtonHutchins Gordon Burton was the 22nd Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1824 to 1827. Some sources indicate that he was not affiliated with any party at the time, although he was associated, according to other sources, with the Federalist Party and later with the National Republican...
, 1810-16 - William P. Drew, 1816-24
- James F. Taylor, 1825-28
- Robert H. Jones, 1828
- Romulus M. Saunders, 1828-34
- John Reeves Jones DanielJohn Reeves Jones DanielJohn Reeves Jones Daniel was a Congressional Representative from North Carolina.Daniel was born near Halifax, North Carolina and was instructed privately at home. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1821. After studying law, he was admitted to the North Carolina...
, 1835-41 - Hugh McQueen, 1841-42
- Spier Whitaker, 1842-46
- Edward Stanly, 1846-48
- Bartholomew F. Moore, 1848-51
- William Eaton, Jr., 1851-52
- Matt W. Ransom, 1853-55
- Joseph B. Batchelor, 1855-56
- William H. Bailey, 1857
- William A. Jenkins, 1857-62
- Sion Hart RogersSion Hart RogersSion Hart Rogers was a Congressman from and Attorney General of the U.S. state of North Carolina.-Biography:...
, 1863-68 - William M. Coleman, 1868-69
- Lewis P. OldsLewis P. OldsLewis P. Olds was a North Carolina lawyer and politician who served as North Carolina Attorney General in 1869-1870.In 1868, he was offered the presidency of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Kemp P. Battle wrote, "As there was no treasury in sight from which a salary could be drawn,...
, 1869-70 - William M. Shipp, 1870-73
- Tazewell L. Hargrove, 1873-77
- Thomas S. KenanThomas Kenan (Civil War)Colonel Thomas Stephen Kenan was a Confederate soldier, and later a politician. His parents were Sarah Rebecca Graham and Owen Rand Kenan; he was the grandson of U.S. Congressman Thomas Kenan and great-grandson of Revolutionary War general James Kenan...
, 1877-85 - Theodore F. Davidson, 1885-93
- Frank I. OsborneFrank I. OsborneFrank I. Osborne was a North Carolina politician and attorney who served as mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina , as a state senator, and as North Carolina Attorney General ....
, 1893-97 - Zeb V. WalserZeb V. WalserZeb Vance Walser was an attorney and North Carolina politician. Named for Governor Zebulon B. Vance, Walser nevertheless became active in the Republican Party rather than Vance's Democrats....
, 1897-1900 - Robert D. Douglas, 1900-01
- Robert D. Gilmer, 1901-09
- Thomas W. Bickett, 1909-17
- James S. Manning, 1917-25
- Dennis G. Brummitt, 1925-35
- Aaron A. F. SeawellAaron A. F. SeawellAaron Ashley Flowers Seawell was a North Carolina politician and jurist. The son of A. A. F. and Jeannette L. Seawell, he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1884 and later studied law there....
, 1935-38 - Harry McMullan, 1938-55
- William B. Rodman, Jr.William B. Rodman, Jr.William Blount Rodman, Jr. , also known as William B. Rodman, III , was a North Carolina lawyer and politician. He served as a state Senator , a state representative , North Carolina Attorney General and as a justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court .He was the grandson of William B...
, 1955-56 - George B. Patton, 1956-58
- Malcolm B. Seawell, 1958-60
- T. Wade Bruton, 1960-69
- Robert B. Morgan, 1969-74
- James H. Carson, Jr., 1974-75
- Rufus L. EdmistenRufus L. EdmistenRufus Leigh Edmisten is a former North Carolina Secretary of State, Attorney General, and candidate for Governor in 1984. He is currently a lawyer in private practice....
, 1975-85 - Lacy ThornburgLacy ThornburgLacy Herman Thornburg an American lawyer and judge, was North Carolina attorney general from 1985 to 1993.After serving in the United States Army, Thornburg attended Mars Hill College when it was a junior college. He then earned a law degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill...
, 1985-93 - Michael F. Easley, 1993-2001
- Roy A. CooperRoy A. CooperRoy Asberry Cooper, III is the current North Carolina Attorney General. He is a member of the North Carolina Democratic Party.-Personal life and education:...
, 2001-