Attorney General of Wyoming
| Wyoming Attorney General | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| 2013-2014 FY Budget: | $88,511,550 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Authority: | Wyoming Constitution, Article 4, Section 11 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed |
| Current Officeholder | |
 | |
| Name: | Gregory Phillips |
| Officeholder Party: | Democratic |
| Assumed office: | March 2011 |
| Compensation: | $137,150 |
| Other Wyoming Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditors: Auditor • Director • Superintendent of Education • • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
Contents |
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Gregory Phillips.
On January 31, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Phillips for a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. A hearing on his nomination in the U.S. Senate is expected to take place in March or April.[1]
Authority
Unlike many states, Wyoming's constitution does not provide for the office of attorney general. In Article 4 of however, it does grant the state legislature the power to create offices it deems necessary.
Article 4, Section 11:
| ... The legislature may provide for such other state officers as are deemed necessary. |
The office of attorney general in Wyoming was created by legislative statue.
Qualifications
Title 9, Chapter 1, Article 6 of the Wyoming Code establishes the qualifications of the office:
| Prior to his appointment, the attorney general shall have been a practicing attorney for at least four (4) years. At the date of appointment, he shall be in good standing in the courts of record of this state and shall be a resident and elector of the state. |
- practicing attorney for at least 4 years
- in good standing in Wyoming's courts
- a resident of Wyoming
- a registered voter in Wyoming[2]
Appointments
According to Title 9, Chapter 1, Article 6 of the Wyoming Code, the Wyoming attorney general is appointed by the governor with the consent of the state senate.[2]
Vacancies
In the event of a vacancy in the office, the governor shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy.[2]
Duties
The attorney general serves as the chief legal officer of Wyoming. Their office represents state agencies in courts of law and provides legal opinions to state officials. The office does not provide legal advice to individual citizens, organizations, or private businesses.[3]
Title 9, Chapter 1, Section 6 of the Wyoming Code outlines the specific duties of the office:
- Prosecute and defend all suits instituted by or against the state of Wyoming, the prosecution and defense of which is not otherwise provided for by law;
- Represent the state in criminal cases in the supreme court;
- Defend suits brought against state officers in their official relations, except suits brought against them by the state;
- Represent the state in suits, actions or claims in which the state is interested in either the Wyoming supreme court or any United States court;
- Be the legal adviser of all elective and appointive state officers and of the county and district attorneys of the state;
- When requested, give written opinions upon questions submitted to him by elective and appointive state officers and by either branch of the legislature, when in session;
- Effective July 1, 2000, serve as the designated agency to administer the Wyoming governor's council on developmental disabilities. A memorandum of understanding shall be executed by and between the designated agency and the governor's council, which shall incorporate the provisions of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 6024;
- Approve or disapprove any contract submitted to him for review within thirty (30) days of submission.[2]
Divisions
The office of the attorney general is divided into the following offices:
- Administration Division
- Human Services Division
- Civil Division
- Consumer Protection Unit
- Tobacco Settlement Unit
- Criminal Division
- Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
- Tort Litigation Division
- Water & Natural Resources Division
- Medical Review Panel
- Division of Criminal Investigation
- Wyoming Sex Offender Registry
- Governor's Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Law Enforcement Academy
- Peace Officer Standards & Training
- Victim Services Division
State budget
The budget for the Attorney General's Office in Fiscal Year 2013-2014 is $88,511,550.[4]
Compensation
In 2010, the Wyoming Attorney General was paid an estimated $137,150 according to the Council of State Governments.[5]
Contact information
Attorney General's Office
123 Capitol Building
200 W. 24th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Phone: (307) 777-7841
Fax: (307) 777-6869 FAX
See also
External links
References
- ↑ Star Tribune, "Obama nominates Wyoming attorney general for federal appeals court," January 31, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Wyoming Legislative Services, "Title 9, Chapter 1, Article 6: Attorney General," accessed August 21, 2011
- ↑ Wyoming Attorney General website, "Main page," accessed August 21, 2011
- ↑ Wyoming Department of Administration and Information, "Department Budget Summary Attorney General 2013-2014," Accessed April 2, 2013
- ↑ The Council of State Governments,"The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," retrieved May 14, 2011
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