United States Attorney General

Attorney General of the United States of America

Seal of the Department of Justice

Flag of the Attorney General
Incumbent
Loretta Lynch
since April 27, 2015
United States Department of Justice
Style Madam Attorney General/Secretary
Member of Cabinet
Reports to The President
Seat Washington, D.C., United States
Appointer The President
with Senate
Term length No fixed term
Constituting instrument Judiciary Act of 1789
Formation September 26, 1789
First holder Edmund Randolph
Succession Seventh in the United States Presidential Line of Succession
Deputy Deputy Attorney General
Salary Executive Schedule, level 1
Website www.justice.gov

The United States Attorney General (A.G.) is the head of the United States Department of Justice per 28 U.S.C. § 503, concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer and chief lawyer of the United States government. The attorney general serves as a member of the president's cabinet, and is the only cabinet officer who does not have the title of secretary.

The Attorney General is appointed by the President of the United States and takes office after confirmation by the United States Senate. He or she serves at the pleasure of the president and can be removed by the president at any time; the attorney general is also subject to impeachment by the House of Representatives and trial in the Senate for "treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors."

The office of Attorney General was established by Congress by the Judiciary Act of 1789. The original duties of this officer were "to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court in which the United States shall be concerned, and to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law when required by the president of the United States, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments."[1] Only in 1870 was the Department of Justice established to support the attorney general in the discharge of their responsibilities. The Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Defense are generally regarded as the four most important cabinet officials because of the importance of their departments.[2]

The current Attorney General, Loretta Lynch was nominated by President Obama after serving as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. She was confirmed by the Senate on April 23, 2015 and sworn in by Vice President Biden on April 27, 2015.

List of Attorneys General

Parties

      No party       Federalist       Democratic-Republican       Democratic       Whig       Republican

Status
  Denotes service as acting Attorneys General prior to appointment or after resignation
No. Portrait Name Home State Took Office Left Office President(s)
1 Edmund Randolph Virginia September 26, 1789 January 26, 1794 George Washington
2 William Bradford Pennsylvania January 27, 1794 August 23, 1795
3 Charles Lee Virginia December 10, 1795 February 19, 1801
John Adams
4 Levi Lincoln, Sr. Massachusetts March 5, 1801 March 2, 1805 Thomas Jefferson
5 John Breckinridge Kentucky August 7, 1805 December 14, 1806
6 Caesar A. Rodney Delaware January 20, 1807 December 10, 1811
James Madison
7 William Pinkney Maryland December 11, 1811 February 9, 1814
8 Richard Rush Pennsylvania February 10, 1814 November 12, 1817
9 William Wirt Virginia November 13, 1817 March 4, 1829 James Monroe
John Quincy Adams
10 John M. Berrien Georgia March 9, 1829 July 19, 1831 Andrew Jackson
11 Roger B. Taney Maryland July 20, 1831 November 14, 1833
12 Benjamin Franklin Butler New York November 15, 1833 July 4, 1838
Martin Van Buren
13 Felix Grundy Tennessee July 5, 1838 January 10, 1840
14 Henry D. Gilpin Pennsylvania January 11, 1840 March 4, 1841
15 John J. Crittenden Kentucky March 5, 1841 September 12, 1841 William Henry Harrison
John Tyler
16 Hugh Swinton Legaré South Carolina September 13, 1841 June 30, 1843
17 John Nelson Maryland July 1, 1843 March 4, 1845
18 John Y. Mason Virginia March 5, 1845 October 16, 1846 James K. Polk
19 Nathan Clifford Maine October 17, 1846 March 17, 1848
20 Isaac Toucey Connecticut June 21, 1848 March 4, 1849
21 Reverdy Johnson Maryland March 8, 1849 July 21, 1850 Zachary Taylor
22 John J. Crittenden Kentucky July 22, 1850 March 4, 1853 Millard Fillmore
23 Caleb Cushing Massachusetts March 7, 1853 March 4, 1857 Franklin Pierce
24 Jeremiah S. Black Pennsylvania March 6, 1857 December 16, 1860 James Buchanan
25 Edwin M. Stanton Pennsylvania December 20, 1860 March 4, 1861
26 Edward Bates Missouri March 5, 1861 November 24, 1864 Abraham Lincoln
27 James Speed Kentucky December 2, 1864 July 22, 1866
Andrew Johnson
28 Henry Stanbery New York July 23, 1866 July 16, 1868
29 William M. Evarts New York July 17, 1868 March 4, 1869
30 Ebenezer R. Hoar Massachusetts March 5, 1869 November 22, 1870 Ulysses S. Grant
31 Amos T. Akerman Georgia November 23, 1870 December 13, 1871
32 George Henry Williams Oregon December 14, 1871 April 25, 1875
33 Edwards Pierrepont New York April 26, 1875 May 21, 1876
34 Alphonso Taft Vermont May 22, 1876 March 4, 1877
35 Charles Devens Massachusetts March 12, 1877 March 4, 1881 Rutherford B. Hayes
36 Wayne MacVeagh Pennsylvania March 5, 1881 December 15, 1881 James A. Garfield
Chester A. Arthur
37 Benjamin H. Brewster Pennsylvania December 16, 1881 March 4, 1885
38 Augustus H. Garland Arkansas March 6, 1885 March 4, 1889 Grover Cleveland
39 William H. H. Miller Indiana March 7, 1889 March 4, 1893 Benjamin Harrison
40 Richard Olney Massachusetts March 6, 1893 April 7, 1895 Grover Cleveland
41 Judson Harmon Ohio April 8, 1895 March 4, 1897
42 Joseph McKenna California March 5, 1897 January 25, 1898 William McKinley
43 John W. Griggs New Jersey January 25, 1898 March 29, 1901
44 Philander C. Knox Pennsylvania April 5, 1901 June 30, 1904
Theodore Roosevelt
45 William H. Moody Massachusetts July 1, 1904 December 17, 1906
46 Charles J. Bonaparte Maryland December 17, 1906 March 4, 1909
47 George W. Wickersham New York March 4, 1909 March 4, 1913 William Howard Taft
48 James C. McReynolds Tennessee March 5, 1913 August 29, 1914 Woodrow Wilson
49 Thomas Watt Gregory Texas August 29, 1914 March 4, 1919
50 Alexander Mitchell Palmer Pennsylvania March 5, 1919 March 4, 1921
51 Harry M. Daugherty Ohio March 4, 1921 April 6, 1924 Warren G. Harding
Calvin Coolidge
52 Harlan F. Stone New York April 7, 1924 March 1, 1925
53 John G. Sargent Vermont March 7, 1925 March 4, 1929
54 William D. Mitchell Minnesota March 4, 1929 March 4, 1933 Herbert Hoover
55 Homer Stille Cummings Connecticut March 4, 1933 January 1, 1939 Franklin D. Roosevelt
56 Frank Murphy Michigan January 2, 1939 January 18, 1940
57 Robert H. Jackson New York January 18, 1940 August 25, 1941
58 Francis Biddle Pennsylvania August 26, 1941 June 26, 1945
Harry S. Truman
59 Tom C. Clark Texas June 27, 1945 July 26, 1949
60 J. Howard McGrath Rhode Island July 27, 1949 April 3, 1952
61 James P. McGranery Pennsylvania April 4, 1952 January 20, 1953
62 Herbert Brownell, Jr. New York January 21, 1953 October 23, 1957 Dwight D. Eisenhower
63 William P. Rogers Maryland October 23, 1957 January 20, 1961
64 Robert F. Kennedy Massachusetts January 20, 1961 September 3, 1964 John F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
65 Nicholas Katzenbach Illinois September 4, 1964[1] January 28, 1965
January 28, 1965 November 28, 1966
66 Ramsey Clark Texas November 28, 1966[1] March 10, 1967
March 10, 1967 January 20, 1969
67 John N. Mitchell New York January 20, 1969 February 15, 1972 Richard Nixon
68 Richard Kleindienst Arizona February 15, 1972 May 25, 1973
69 Elliot Richardson Massachusetts May 25, 1973 October 20, 1973
– Robert Bork[3]
(acting)		 Pennsylvania October 20, 1973 January 4, 1974
70 William B. Saxbe Ohio January 4, 1974 January 14, 1975
Gerald Ford
71 Edward H. Levi Illinois January 14, 1975 January 20, 1977
– Richard L. Thornburgh[2]
(acting)		 Pennsylvania January 20, 1977 January 26, 1977 Jimmy Carter
72 Griffin Bell Georgia January 26, 1977 August 16, 1979
73 Benjamin Civiletti Maryland August 16, 1979 January 19, 1981
74 William French Smith California January 23, 1981 February 25, 1985 Ronald Reagan
75 Edwin Meese California February 25, 1985 August 12, 1988
76 Richard L. Thornburgh Pennsylvania August 12, 1988 August 15, 1991
George H. W. Bush
77 William P. Barr New York August 16, 1991[1] November 26, 1991
November 26, 1991 January 20, 1993
– Stuart M. Gerson[4]
(acting)		 Washington, D.C. January 20, 1993 March 12, 1993 Bill Clinton
78 Janet Reno Florida March 12, 1993 January 20, 2001
– Eric Holder[2]
(acting)		 Washington, D.C. January 20, 2001 February 2, 2001 George W. Bush
79 John Ashcroft Missouri February 2, 2001 February 3, 2005
80 Alberto Gonzales Texas February 3, 2005 September 17, 2007
– Paul Clement[5]
(acting)		 Washington, D.C. September 17, 2007 September 18, 2007
– Peter Keisler[5]
(acting)		 Washington, D.C. September 18, 2007 November 9, 2007
81 Michael Mukasey New York November 9, 2007 January 20, 2009
– Mark Filip[6]
(acting)		 Illinois January 20, 2009 February 3, 2009 Barack Obama
82 Eric Holder Washington, D.C. February 3, 2009 April 27, 2015
83 Loretta Lynch New York April 27, 2015 present

Living former U.S. Attorneys General

As of April 2016, there are nine living former US Attorneys General, the oldest being Ramsey Clark (served 1967-1969, born 1927). The most recent Attorney General to die was Nicholas Katzenbach (served 1965–1966, born 1922), on May 8, 2012.

NameTerm of officeDate of birth (and age)
Ramsey Clark 1967–1969 December 18, 1927
Benjamin Civiletti 1979–1981 July 17, 1935
Edwin Meese 1985–1988 December 2, 1931
Dick Thornburgh 1988–1991 July 16, 1932
William P. Barr 1991–1993 May 23, 1950
Janet Reno 1993–2001 July 21, 1938
John Ashcroft 2001–2005 May 9, 1942
Alberto Gonzales 2005–2007 August 4, 1955
Michael Mukasey 2007–2009 July 28, 1941
Eric Holder 2009–2015 January 21, 1951

See also

Notes

References

  1. ↑ Judiciary Act of 1789, section 35.
  2. ↑ Cabinets and Counselors: The President and the Executive Branch (1997). Congressional Quarterly. p. 87.
  3. ↑ Cahoon, Ben (2000). "United States Government". World Statesmen. Retrieved 2008-12-12. January 20, 1993 – March 12, 1993 Stuart M. Gerson (acting) (b. 1944)
  4. 1 2 Staff reporter (1993-02-21). "Stuart Gerson's Parting Shot". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-12-12. As supporters of the Brady gun-control bill prepare to introduce it in Congress yet again this week, they find a welcome, if unlikely, ally in Stuart Gerson, the Acting Attorney General. Because President Clinton has had so many problems finding a new Attorney General, Mr. Gerson remains in office...
  5. ↑ Labaton, Stephen (1993-01-25). "Notes on Justice; Who's in Charge? Bush Holdover Says He Is, but Two Clinton Men Differ". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
  6. 1 2 Scruggs, Richard; Steven Zipperstein; Robert Lyon; Victor Gonzalez; Herbert Cousins; Roderick Beverly (1993-10-08). "Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas February 28 to April 19, 1993". Department of Justice. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
  7. 1 2 Ifill, Gwen (1993-03-12). "Reno Confirmed in Top Justice Job". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-12-12. She will replace Acting Attorney General Stuart M. Gerson, a holdover appointee from the Bush Administration. Ms. Reno said he resigned today.
  8. ↑ Meyers, Steven Lee (August 27, 2007). "Embattled Attorney General Resigns". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-08-27.
  9. ↑ Eggen, Dan; Elizabeth Williamson (September 19, 2007). "Democrats May Tie Confirmation to Gonzales Papers". Washington Post. pp. A10. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
  10. ↑ "President Bush Announces Judge Michael Mukasey as Nominee for Attorney General", White House press release, September 17, 2007
  11. ↑ "Bush Text on Attorney General Nomination". NewsOK.com (The Oklahoman). The Associated Press. September 17, 2007. Retrieved September 18, 2007.
  12. ↑ Staff reporter (2009-01-15). "Obama asks U.S. Attorneys to stay 'for the time being'". CNN Political Ticker. Retrieved 2009-01-21. In addition, Obama's transition team has asked current Deputy Attorney General Mark Filip, also a Bush appointee, to serve as Acting Attorney General replacing outgoing Attorney General Michael Mukasey.)
  13. ↑ Staff reporter (2009-01-21). "Bush Appointees Holding Down the Fort While Obama Nominees Await Confirmation". FOX News. Retrieved 2009-02-04. While Holder waits for his confirmation, Bush appointee Mark Filip is acting attorney general. A former U.S. District Court judge in Illinois, the native Chicagoan holds a law degree from Harvard and was a lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School. Holder was supposed to have faced a confirmation vote on Wednesday, but scheduling conflicts necessitated a delay in the Senate.
  14. ↑ "Acting Attorney General Mark Filip." United States Department of Justice. January 20, 2009. (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/5eJ6TAbgg)
  15. ↑ Staff reporter (2009-02-03). "Obama attorney-general confirmed". BBC News. Retrieved 2009-02-03. President Barack Obama's choice for attorney-general, Eric Holder, has been confirmed in the post by the US Senate.
  16. ↑ Staff (n.d.). "USDOJ: Office of the Attorney General". US Department of Justice. Retrieved 2009-02-03. Alberto Gonzales. was sworn in as the 83rd Attorney General of the United States on March 22, 2013 by Vice-President Joe Biden. President Barack Obama announced his intention to nominate Mr. Gonzales on December 1, 2012.

External links

United States presidential line of succession
Preceded by
Secretary of Defense		 7th in line Succeeded by
Secretary of the Interior
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, April 27, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.