The Ohio Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of Ohio

Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...

 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The office is filled by general election, held every four years. The Ohio Attorney General is Mike DeWine

Mike DeWine

Richard Michael "Mike" DeWine is the Attorney General for the state of Ohio. He has held numerous offices on the state and federal level, including Ohio State Senator, four terms as a U.S. Congressman, Ohio Lt. Governor, and was a two-term U.S. Senator, serving from 1995 to 2007.- Biography :Born...

.

History

The office of the Ohio Attorney General was first created by the Ohio General Assembly

Ohio General Assembly

The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio. It consists of the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives and the 33-member Ohio Senate...

 by statute in 1846. The attorney general

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...

's principal duties were to give legal advice to the state government

Government of Ohio

The government of the state of Ohio comprises three branches executive, legislative, and judicial. Its basic structure is set forth in the Ohio Constitution.-Executive Branch:...

, to represent the state in legal matters, and to advise the state's county prosecutors. Originally, the attorney general was appointed by the legislature. With the adoption of Ohio's second constitution in 1851, the attorney general became an elected office. The attorney general's duties were drawn very generally at that time.

In 1952, the General Assembly passed a statute that added to the attorney general's responsibilities, including trusteeship over charitable trust

Charitable trust

A charitable trust is an irrevocable trust established for charitable purposes, and is a more specific term than "charitable organization".-United States:...

s, and legal advice to more government agencies. The act stated that the attorney general could prosecute individuals only if the governor requested so in writing. Starting in 1954, the term of office was increased from two years to four years.

In 2008 Nancy H. Rogers

Nancy H. Rogers

Nancy Hardin Rogers is a former Attorney General of Ohio, a former Dean of the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and the current holder of the Michael E. Moritz Chair in Alternative Dispute Resolution at the Moritz College of Law....

 was appointed following the resignation of Marc Dann

Marc Dann

Marc Dann Marc Dann Marc Dann (born March 12, 1962, in Evanston, Illinois, is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1984 from the University of Michigan and a law degree in 1987 from Case Western Reserve University, and practiced law in Youngstown,...

. A special election was held in 2008 to find a permanent replacement; then-Ohio State Treasurer

Ohio State Treasurer

-List of Ohio State Treasurers:...

 Richard Cordray

Richard Cordray

Richard Cordray is an American politician of the Democratic Party who last served as the Attorney General of Ohio. He has been chosen to run the enforcement division of the United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which officially began operating in July 2011...

 (D

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

) beat out Michael Crites (R

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

), and Robert M. Owens

Robert M. Owens

Robert M. Owens , is a Delaware, Ohio lawyer who ran as an independent candidate for Ohio Attorney General in the November 4, 2008 election. Owens currently serves on the national council of The John Birch Society.- Education :Owens graduated with honors from Ohio Wesleyan University, with a major...

 (I) for the position.

The Solicitor General of Ohio

Solicitor General of Ohio

The Solicitor General of Ohio, Ohio Solicitor General, State Solicitor of Ohio, or Ohio State Solicitor is the top appellate solicitor or lawyer for the U.S. State of Ohio. It is an appointed position in the Office of the Ohio Attorney General that focuses on the office's major appellate cases...

 is the top appellate lawyer in the Attorney General's office.

List of Attorneys General of Ohio, 1846-present

Term	Attorney General	Party	Home county	Image	Notes
1846–1851	Henry Stanbery Henry Stanbery Henry Stanbery was an American lawyer and Presidential Cabinet member.Born in New York, he was the son of Jonas Stanbery, a physician. The family moved to Zanesville, Ohio in 1814. Henry Stanbery graduated from Washington College in Washington, Pennsylvania and studied law...	Whig Whig Party (United States) The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...	Fairfield Fairfield County, Ohio Fairfield County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 146,156. Its county seat is Lancaster. Its name is a reference to the Fairfield area of the original Lancaster....
1851–1852	Joseph McCormick Joseph McCormick (Ohio) Joseph McCormick was a Democratic lawyer in the U. S. State of Ohio who participated in the second State Constitutional Convention and was Ohio Attorney General for a few months 1851-1852.-Biography:...	Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...	Adams Adams County, Ohio As of the census of 2000, there were 27,330 people, 10,501 households, and 7,613 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 11,822 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
1852–1854	George Ellis Pugh	Democratic	Hamilton Hamilton County, Ohio As of 2000, there were 845,303 people, 346,790 households, and 212,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,075 people per square mile . There were 373,393 housing units at an average density of 917 per square mile...
1854–1856	George W. McCook	Democratic	Jefferson Jefferson County, Ohio Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 69,709. Its county seat is Steubenville and is named for Thomas Jefferson, who was at the time Vice President....
1856	Francis D. Kimball Francis D. Kimball Francis D. Kimball was a Republican politician from the state of Ohio. He was Ohio Attorney General in 1856.Kimball was born 1820 in New Hampshire. He was reared as a Whig and an Abolitionist. In 1842 he moved to Medina County, Ohio, and was soon elected to county office. He was prosecuting...	Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...	Medina		died
1856–1861	Christopher Wolcott Christopher Wolcott Christopher Parsons Wolcott was a Republican politician from the state of Ohio. He was Ohio Attorney General 1856-1860 and First Assistant Secretary of War 1862-1863....	Republican	Summit Summit County, Ohio Summit County is an urban county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 542,899. In the 2010 Census the population was 541,781. Its county seat is Akron...
1861–1863	James Murray James Murray (Ohio politician) James Murray was a Republican politician from the state of Ohio. He was Ohio Attorney General in 1861 and 1862.James Murray was born in Scotland about 1830. In 1831, when about a year old, his family moved to Sidney, Ohio. He was educated in the public schools, and admitted to the bar in 1851. He...	Republican	Wood Wood County, Ohio Wood County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 125,488. Its county seat is Bowling Green. The county was named for Captain Eleazer D. Wood, the engineer for General William Henry Harrison's army, who built Fort Meigs in the War of 1812...
1863–1865	Lyman R. Critchfield Lyman R. Critchfield Lyman R. Critchfield was a Democratic politician from the state of Ohio. He was Ohio Attorney General 1863-1865.Lyman R. Critchfield was born May 22, 1831 at Danville Knox County, Ohio. His family moved to Millersburg Holmes County, Ohio in 1834. He attended public schools and graduated from Ohio...	Democratic	Holmes Holmes County, Ohio As of the census of 2000, there were 38,943 people, 11,337 households, and 9,194 families residing in the county. The population density was 92 people per square mile . There were 12,280 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
1865	William P. Richardson William P. Richardson William Pitt Richardson was a Republican politician from the state of Ohio, USA. He was Ohio Attorney General in 1865....	Unionist Unionist Party (United States) The Union Party was a fusion political party conceived by Republicans in 1861 to combine people of all political affiliations into a single movement committed to the preservation of the Union and to war. Republicans wanted to project an image of wartime nonpartisanship and they also expected to...	Washington Washington County, Ohio Washington County is a county located in the state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 61,778. Its county seat is Marietta. The county, the oldest in the state, is named for George Washington. Washington County is included in the Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, West Virginia-Ohio...		resigned
1865–1866	Chauncey N. Olds Chauncey N. Olds Chauncey N. Olds was a Republican politician from the state of Ohio. He was Ohio Attorney General 1865.-Biography:Chauncey Olds was born February 2, 1816 at Marlboro, Vermont, brother of Edson B. Olds. He was moved to Cuyahoga County, Ohio at age four. In 1830, the family moved to Circleville,...	Republican	Pickaway Pickaway County, Ohio As of the census of 2000, there were 52,727 people, 17,599 households, and 13,287 families residing in the county. The population density was 105 people per square mile . There were 18,596 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile...
1866–1870	William H. West William H. West William H. West was a Republican Party politician in the U.S. state of Ohio who served as Ohio Attorney General from 1866 to 1868, and a member of the Ohio Supreme Court from February 1872 to 1873. His failing eyesight and powerful oration led to the title Blind Man Eloquent.-Biography:William H...	Republican	Logan Logan County, Ohio Logan County is a county in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,858. The county seat is Bellefontaine. The county is named for Benjamin Logan, who fought Native Americans in the area....
1870–1874	Francis Bates Pond Francis Bates Pond Francis Bates Pond was a Republican politician from the state of Ohio. He was Ohio Attorney General from 1870 to 1874.Pond was born August 9, 1825 at Ellisburg, Jefferson County, New York. He entered Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio in 1841, and graduated with honors in 1846...	Republican	Morgan Morgan County, Ohio **----...
1874–1878	John Little John Little (congressman) John Little was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born near Grape Grove, Ross Township, Greene County, Ohio, Little attended the common schools.He was graduated from Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, in 1862....	Republican	Greene Greene County, Ohio Greene County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 161,573 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Xenia, and it was named for General Nathanael Greene, an officer in the Revolutionary War. Greene County was established on March 24, 1803.Greene County is part...
1878–1880	Isaiah Pillars Isaiah Pillars right|250pxIsaiah Pillars was a lawyer in the U. S. State of Ohio who served in the Ohio House of Representatives and was Ohio Attorney General 1878-1880.-Biography:...	Democratic	Allen Allen County, Ohio Allen County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. Its population was 106,331 as of the 2010 census. It is included in the Lima, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Lima–Van Wert–Wapakoneta Combined Statistical Area....
1880–1883	George K. Nash George K. Nash thumb|right|300pxGeorge Kilborn Nash was a Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the 41st Governor of Ohio.-Biography:...	Republican	Franklin Franklin County, Ohio Franklin County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. In 2010 the population was 1,163,414, making it the second largest county in Ohio and the 34th largest county in population in the United States. Franklin County is also the largest in the eight-county Columbus, Ohio...
1883–1884	David Hollingsworth David Hollingsworth David Adams Hollingsworth was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born in Belmont, Ohio, Hollingsworth moved with his parents to Flushing, Ohio.He attended the public schools....	Republican	Harrison
1884–1886	James Lawrence James Lawrence (Ohio politician) James Lawrence was a Democratic politician from the state of Ohio. He was Ohio Attorney General 1884-1886....	Democratic	Cuyahoga Cuyahoga County, Ohio Cuyahoga County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. It is the most populous county in Ohio; as of the 2010 census, the population was 1,280,122. Its county seat is Cleveland. Cuyahoga County is part of Greater Cleveland, a metropolitan area, and Northeast Ohio, a...
1886–1888	Jacob A. Kohler Jacob A. Kohler Jacob Adams Kohler was a Republican politician from the state of Ohio. He was Ohio Attorney General from 1886-1887.-Biography:Kohler was born August 15, 1835 at Reading, Pennsylvania. When he was four months old, his family moved to Franklin Township, Summit County, Ohio. He received a public...	Republican	Summit
1888–1892	David K. Watson David K. Watson David Kemper Watson was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born near London, Ohio, Watson was graduated from Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in 1871 and from the law department of Boston University in 1873....	Republican	Franklin
1892–1896	John K. Richards John K. Richards John Kelvey Richards was an Attorney General of Ohio, the ninth Solicitor General of the United States, and later a United States federal judge.-Early life, education, and career:...	Republican	Lawrence Lawrence County, Ohio As of the census of 2000, there were 62,319 people, 24,732 households, and 17,807 families residing in the county. The population density was 137 people per square mile . There were 27,189 housing units at an average density of 60 per square mile...
1896–1900	Frank S. Monnette Frank S. Monnette right|250pxFrank S. Monnette , aka Francis S. Monnett, was born in Hardin County, Ohio. He was Ohio Attorney General from 1896-1900 as a member of the Republican Party....	Republican	Crawford Crawford County, Ohio Crawford County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. It was named for Colonel William Crawford, a soldier during the American Revolution....
1900–1904	John M. Sheets John M. Sheets John Marion Sheets was a Republican politician from the U. S. State of Ohio. He was Ohio Attorney General from 1900-1904.-Biography:Sheets was born May 26, 1854 at Columbus Grove, Putnam County, Ohio, was educated at public schools, and at age twenty began teaching...	Republican	Putnam Putnam County, Ohio Putnam County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 34,499. The name is in honor of Israel Putnam, who was a hero in the French and Indian War and a general in the American Revolutionary War. Its county seat is...
1904–1908	Wade H. Ellis Wade H. Ellis Wade Hampton Ellis was a Republican politician in the U. S. State of Ohio who was Ohio Attorney General 1904-1908.-Biography:Wade H. Ellis was born at Covington, Kentucky...	Republican	Hamilton
1908–1911	Ulysses G. Denman Ulysses G. Denman Ulysses Grant Denman was a Republican politician from the state of Ohio. He was Ohio Attorney General from 1908-1911 ....	Republican	Lucas Lucas County, Ohio ----...
1911–1915	Timothy S. Hogan Timothy Sylvester Hogan (1864) thumb|right|circa 1912Timothy Sylvester Hogan was a Democratic politician in the U. S. State of Ohio who was Ohio Attorney General 1911–1915.-Biography:...	Democratic	Jackson Jackson County, Ohio Jackson County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 33,225. Its county seat is Jackson and is named for Andrew Jackson, a hero of the War of 1812 who was subsequently elected President of the United States....
1915–1917	Edward C. Turner Edward C. Turner Edward Crawford Turner was a Republican lawyer in the U. S. State of Ohio who served two non consecutive terms of two years as Ohio Attorney General, and was later a justice of the Ohio Supreme Court 1940 until his death.-Biography:Edward C. Turner was born at Columbus, Ohio in 1872 to Robert M....	Republican	Franklin
1917–1919	Joseph McGhee Joseph McGhee right|250pxJoseph McGhee was a Democratic politician in the U. S. State of Ohio who was Ohio Attorney General 1917-1919.-Biography:...	Democratic	Jackson
1919–1923	John G. Price John G. Price right|250pxJohn G. Price was a Republican lawyer from the U. S. State of Ohio who served as Ohio Attorney General 1919-1923.-Biography:...	Republican	Franklin
1923–1927	Charles C. Crabbe Charles C. Crabbe thumb|right|250px|circa 1920Charles C. Crabbe was a lawyer from the U. S. State of Ohio who was a legislator in the Ohio House of Representatives and served as Ohio Attorney General 1923-1927.-Biography:...	Republican	Madison Madison County, Ohio As of the census of 2000, there were 40,213 people, 13,672 households, and 10,035 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 people per square mile . There were 14,399 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile...
1927–1929	Edward C. Turner (2nd)	Republican	Franklin
1929–1933	Gilbert Bettman Gilbert Bettman Gilbert Bettman was an American politician of the Ohio Republican party.In 1932, Bettman ran for the office of U.S. senator from Ohio. He lost to the incumbent Democrat, Robert J. Bulkley....	Republican	Franklin
1933–1937	John W. Bricker John W. Bricker John William Bricker was a United States Senator and the 54th Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he was the Republican nominee for Vice President in 1944.-Early life:...	Republican	Franklin
1937–1939	Herbert S. Duffy	Democratic	Franklin
1939–1945	Thomas J. Herbert Thomas J. Herbert Thomas James Herbert was a Republican politician from Ohio. He was the 56th Governor of Ohio.Herbert was born in Cleveland, Ohio. After serving in the Army Air Service during World War I, Herbert returned to Ohio, where he graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1919, and...	Republican	Cuyahoga
1945–1949	Hugh S. Jenkins	Republican	Mahoning
1949–1951	Herbert S. Duffy (2nd)	Democratic	Franklin
1951–1957	C. William O'Neill C. William O'Neill C. William O'Neill was a Republican politician from Ohio. He was born in Marietta, Ohio. He was the 59th Governor of Ohio. He graduated from both Marietta College and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law...	Republican	Washington
1957–1959	William B. Saxbe William B. Saxbe William Bart "Bill" Saxbe was an American politician affiliated with the Republican Party, who served as a U.S. Senator from Ohio, as U.S. Attorney General under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald R. Ford, and as United States Ambassador to India.At the time of his death, Saxbe was the...	Republican	Champaign Champaign County, Ohio As of the census of 2000, there were 38,890 people, 14,952 households, and 10,870 families residing in the county. The population density was 91 people per square mile . There were 15,890 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile...
1959–1963	Mark McElroy	Democratic	Cuyahoga
1963–1969	William B. Saxbe (2nd)	Republican	Champaign		resigned
1969–1971	Paul W. Brown Paul W. Brown Paul Wesley Brown was a Republican lawyer in the U. S. State of Ohio who served two non consecutive terms as a justice of the Ohio Supreme Court sandwiched around being appointed Ohio Attorney General.-Biography:...	Republican	Franklin
1971–1983	William J. Brown William J. Brown William J. Brown was an American lawyer, and was elected Ohio Attorney General in 1970 and served until leaving office in January 1983.Brown was from Mahoning County, Ohio. He remained active in Ohio politics through the 1990s. Brown's tenure in office is one of the longest on record for the Ohio...	Democratic	Mahoning
1983–1991	Anthony J. Celebrezze Jr. Anthony J. Celebrezze Jr. Anthony Joseph "Tony" Celebrezze Jr. was an American politician of the Democratic party, who served as Ohio Attorney General, Ohio Secretary of State and an Ohio State Senator. He was the son of Anthony J. Celebrezze Sr....	Democratic	Cuyahoga
1991–1995	Lee Fisher Lee Fisher Lee Fisher was the 64th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, who served with Governor Ted Strickland from 2007 until 2011.He is a member of the Democratic Party.In addition to serving as Lt...	Democratic	Cuyahoga
1995–2003	Betty D. Montgomery Betty Montgomery Betty Montgomery is an American politician from the state of Ohio. A Republican, she formerly served as Ohio State Auditor.-Prosecutor:...	Republican	Wood
2003–2007	Jim Petro Jim Petro James M. “Jim” Petro is an American politician from the Republican Party, and a former Ohio Attorney General. Previously, Petro also served as Ohio State Auditor. Petro was a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor of Ohio during the 2006 Ohio Primaries, but lost to Ken Blackwell...	Republican	Cuyahoga
2007–2008	Marc Dann Marc Dann Marc Dann Marc Dann Marc Dann (born March 12, 1962, in Evanston, Illinois, is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1984 from the University of Michigan and a law degree in 1987 from Case Western Reserve University, and practiced law in Youngstown,...	Democratic	Trumbull Trumbull County, Ohio As of the census of 2000, there were 225,116 people, 89,020 households, and 61,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 365 people per square mile . There were 95,117 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile...		resigned on May 14, 2008
2008–2009	Nancy H. Rogers Nancy H. Rogers Nancy Hardin Rogers is a former Attorney General of Ohio, a former Dean of the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and the current holder of the Michael E. Moritz Chair in Alternative Dispute Resolution at the Moritz College of Law....	Democratic	Franklin		Did not run in the subsequent special election.
2009–2011	Richard Cordray Richard Cordray Richard Cordray is an American politician of the Democratic Party who last served as the Attorney General of Ohio. He has been chosen to run the enforcement division of the United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which officially began operating in July 2011...	Democratic	Franklin
2011–	Mike DeWine Mike DeWine Richard Michael "Mike" DeWine is the Attorney General for the state of Ohio. He has held numerous offices on the state and federal level, including Ohio State Senator, four terms as a U.S. Congressman, Ohio Lt. Governor, and was a two-term U.S. Senator, serving from 1995 to 2007.- Biography :Born...	Republican	Greene