Attorney General of Maine

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Maine Attorney General

Seal of Maine.png
General information
Office Type:  Partisan
Office website:  Official Link
Term limits:  4 two-year terms
Structure
Length of term:   Two years
Authority:  Maine Constitution, Article IX, Section 11
Selection Method:  Elected by secret ballot of the state legislature
Current Officeholder

Janet Mills.jpg
Name:  Janet T. Mills
Officeholder Party:  Democratic
Assumed office:  December 4, 2012
Compensation:  $92,248
Other Maine Executive Offices
GovernorSecretary of StateAttorney GeneralTreasurerAuditorCommissioner of EducationAgriculture, Conservation and Forestry CommissionerSuperintendent of InsuranceLabor CommissionerPublic Utilities Commission

Contents

The Attorney General of Maine serves as the chief legal advisor for the state.

Current officeholder

The current officeholder is Janet Mills. She was confirmed for the position on December 4, 2012.[1]

The previous officeholder was William Schneider. Elected to the office by a Republican majority that controlled both houses of the State Legislature in 2010, he was the first Republican named to the statewide public position in decades. [2]

Authority

The state Constitution establishes the office of the attorney general in Article IX, Section 11.

The Attorney General shall be chosen biennially by joint ballot of the Senators and Representatives in convention. Vacancy in said office occurring when the Legislature is not in session, may be filled by appointment by the Governor, subject to confirmation as required by this Constitution for Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court.

Appointments

See also: State executives with term limits

The Maine Attorney General is elected by secret ballot of the legislature. It is one of the first tasks of each newly-sworn in legislature. Maine is the only state to select its attorney general in this manner.[3]

Term limits

The attorney general is limited to four 2-year terms.

Duties

The attorney general oversees the following duties while in office:

  • Representing the State and is agencies in civil actions, prosecuting claims to recover money for the State, and prosecuting other crimes
  • Consulting and advising district attorneys
  • Non-profit funding regulations
  • Giving written opinions upon questions of the law submitted by the governor, state legislature or state agencies
  • Appointing deputy and assistant attorneys general
  • Acting as the first in line to succeed the Governor should the office holder leave office or become incapacitate. Maine is one of five states that has no Lt. Governor.

Campaign finance

Main article: Campaign finance requirements for Maine ballot measures

The Attorney General of Maine is responsible for all disciplinary manners towards the state's campaign finance laws. This is regardless if the offense involves civil or criminal laws. The first step if someone may have violated Maine campaign finance law is to file a complaint with the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices. It is up to the Commission to determine if any apparent violation has happened. [4]

Compensation

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

In 2012, the Maine Attorney General was paid an estimated $83,844. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.

Contact Information

6 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333

Phone: 207-626-8800
Toll Free Phone: 207-626-8865

See also

External links

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References

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