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Attorney General of South Carolina
From Ballotpedia
| South Carolina Attorney General | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| 2012-2013 FY Budget: | $22,031,154 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | South Carolina Constitution, Article V, Section 24 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
 | |
| Name: | Alan Wilson |
| Officeholder Party: | Republican |
| Assumed office: | January 12, 2011 |
| Compensation: | $92,007 |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 4, 2014 |
| Last election: | November 2, 2010 |
| Other South Carolina Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Comptroller • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Adjutant General • Inspector General • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
Contents |
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Alan Wilson. He was first elected to the position in November 2010.
Authority
Article V, Section 24 of the state constitution established the attorney general as the South Carolina chief legal officer.
Article V, Section 24:
| ... The Attorney General shall be the chief prosecuting officer of the State with authority to supervise the prosecution of all criminal cases in courts of record. |
Qualifications
Article VI, Section 1 of the South Carolina Constitution establishes the qualifications of the office:
| No person may be popularly elected to and serve in any office in this State or its political subdivisions unless he possesses the qualifications of an elector, is not disqualified by age as prescribed in this Constitution, and has not been convicted of a felony under state or federal law or convicted of tampering with a voting machine, fraudulent registration or voting, bribery at elections, procuring or offering to procure votes by bribery, voting more than once at elections, impersonating a voter, or swearing falsely at elections/taking oath in another's name, or has not pled guilty or nolo contendere to these offenses. However, notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, this prohibition does not apply to a person who has been pardoned under state or federal law or to a person who files for public office fifteen years or more after the completion date of service of the sentence, including probation and parole time, nor shall any person, serving in office prior to the ratification of this provision, be required to vacate the office to which he is elected. No person may be elected or appointed to office in this State for life or during good behavior, but the terms of all officers must be for some specified period except officers in the militia. |
- possess the qualifications of an elector
- not disqualified by age as prescribed in the South Carolina Constitution
- not convicted of a felony under state or federal law
- not convicted of tampering with a voting machine, fraudulent registration or voting, bribery at elections, procuring or offering to procure votes by bribery, voting more than once at elections, impersonating a voter, or swearing falsely at elections/taking oath in another's name, or has not pled guilty or nolo contendere to these offenses
Elections
Article VI, Section 7 of the state constitution stipulates the attorney general will be elected every four years, to a term of four year term. The attorney general, like South Carolina's other executive officials, is elected in mid-term elections: 2010, 2014, and 2018.
Duties
The attorney general has duties in three distinct areas that mimic its roles: chief criminal prosecutor, chief legal officer, and securities commissioner.
- Chief criminal prosecutor:
- Represents the State of South Carolina in prosecuting criminal cases and holds supervisory authority over the prosecution of any and all criminal cases in the State of South Carolina;
- Oversees the activities of the State Grand Jury including the prosecution of multi-jurisdictional drug offenders, obscenity, public corruption, election fraud, computer crime violations, terrorism, and securities fraud;
- Trains and supervises pro-bono domestic violence prosecutors in summary and municipal court and through a federal grant, prosecutes in State courts defendants accused of criminal domestic violence;
- Represents the State in all death penalty appeals in both state and federal courts;
- Prosecutes cases of Internet crimes against children, including those involving sexual exploitation;
- Investigates and prosecutes cases of Medicaid fraud, patient abuse, and provider fraud;
- Represents the State in civil confinement trials of alleged sexually violent predators under South Carolina’s Sexually Violent Predators statute;
- Prosecutes all cases of insurance fraud;
- Prosecutes violations of State’s tax laws;
- Assists victims of crimes in claiming the benefits guaranteed under the State’s Victims Bill of Rights;
- Represents the State when defendants file for Post Conviction Relief and when they appeal their convictions;
- Sponsors a Youth Mentor Program designed to prevent juvenile crime and rescue at-risk youngsters before they commit violent offenses.
- Chief legal officer:
- Represents and advises the State, its agencies, political subdivision, and its officials in legal matters when the State is a party to a legal action, either as plaintiff or defendant;
- Is responsible for employing and supervising those attorneys who represent the State, as well as, overseeing the State’s litigation and effectuating South Carolina’s legal policy;
- Issues official legal opinions upon request by constitutional officers, members of the General Assembly, and certain state and local officials;
- Securities commissioner:
- Oversees the registration of all persons engaged in the sale of securities in the State of South Carolina; investigates allegations of fraud or other violations of securities laws and takes appropriate enforcement action; and provides information on securities laws and practices.[1]
Divisions
- Capital Collateral Litigation
- Civil Litigation
- Criminal Appeals
- Criminal Prosecution
- Medicaid Fraud
- Securities
State budget
The budget for the in Fiscal Year 2012-2013 was $22,031,154.[2]
Compensation
In 2010, the Attorney General of South Carolina was paid an estimated $92,007 according to the Council of State Governments.[3]
Contact Information
Attorney General of South Carolina:
Rembert Dennis Building
1000 Assembly Street, Room 519
Columbia, S.C. 29201
Phone: 803-734-3970
Toll Free Phone: 1-803-734-3970
Fax: 803-734-4323
E-mail: info@scattorneygeneral.com
See also
- Alan Wilson
- Governor of South Carolina
- Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
- South Carolina Secretary of State
External links
References
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