Attorney General of Illinois

Illinois Attorney General
General information
Office Type:	Partisan
Office website:	Official Link
Term limits:	None
Structure
Length of term:	4 years
Authority:	Illinois Constitution, Article V, Section 1
Selection Method:	Elected
Current Officeholder
Name:	Lisa Madigan
Officeholder Party:	Democratic
Assumed office:	January 13, 2003
Compensation:	$156,600
Elections
Next election:	November 4, 2014
Last election:	November 2, 2010
Other Illinois Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Comptroller • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Director • Insurance Director • Natural Resources Director • Labor Director • Illinois Commerce Commission

The Attorney General of Illinois is the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois. Originally an appointed office, it is now an office filled by election through universal suffrage. Based in Chicago and Springfield, he or she is responsible for providing legal counsel for the various state agencies including the Governor of Illinois and Illinois General Assembly. He or she also conducts all legal affairs pertaining to the state.

The position of Illinois attorney general was established on December 3, 1818 based on guidelines adopted by a state constitutional convention. The first person to fulfill the duties of the office was Daniel Pope Cook who only served eleven days. He was later elected to the Congress; Cook County was named in his honor.

Current officeholder

The current attorney general of Illinois is Lisa Madigan. Prior to becoming an attorney, Madigan worked as a teacher and community organizer, developing after-school programs to help prevent young children from becoming involved in drugs and gangs. She also volunteered as a high school teacher in South Africa for a brief time during apartheid. Returning to the United States and receiving her law degree, Madigan served as a litigator for the Chicago-based law firm of Sachnoff & Weaver.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree, Georgetown University (1988)
• Juris Doctorate degree, Loyola University-Chicago School of Law

Authority

The attorney general's office is authorized by Article V, Section 1 of the Illinois Constitution.

Article V, Section 1

Officers: The Executive Branch shall include a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller and Treasurer elected by the electors of the State. They shall keep the public records and maintain a residence at the seat of government during their terms of office.

Elections

According to Article V, Section 2 of the state constitution, the attorney general shall hold office for four years beginning on the second Monday of January after their election and until their successors are qualified. They shall be elected at the general election in 1978 and every four years thereafter.

Vacancies

Article V, Section 7 of the Illinois Constitution addresses vacancies in the office of attorney general. If the Attorney General...fails to qualify or if his office becomes vacant, the Governor shall fill the office by appointment. The appointee shall hold office until the elected officer qualifies or until a successor is elected and qualified as may be provided by law and shall not be subject to removal by the Governor.

Qualifications

Here is a list of the standard qualifications necessary under Illinois State Law in order to be considered for the Office of State Attorney General:

• To be eligible to hold the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller or Treasurer, a person must be:

• a United States citizen, at least 25 years old
• a resident of this State for the three years preceding his election (Illinois Constitution, Article V § 3)

Duties

The job of the attorney general is to:

• Advocate on behalf of all of the people of Illinois;
• Legislate with members of the General Assembly for new laws; and
• Litigate to ensure state laws are followed and respected.

As per the Illinois Constitution, the "attorney general shall be the legal officer of the State, and shall have the duties and powers that may be prescribed by law."(Illinois Constitution, Article V § 15)

Divisions

The Illinois Attorney General's Office has 11 division areas of service:

• Protecting Consumers
• Advocating for Women
• Keeping Communities Safe
• Advocating for Older Citizens
• Safeguarding Children
• Defending Your Rights
• Preserving the Environment
• Helping Crime Victims
• Enduring Open and Honest Government
• Building Better Charities
• MethNet

Campaign finance

Main article: Campaign finance requirements for Illinois ballot measures

The Attorney General of Illinois is responsible for prosecuting campaign finance complaints on a case by case basis. Campaign finance reports can be referred to the Attorney General at any time regardless if it involves criminal or civil law from the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Compensation

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

2012

In 2012, the attorney general was paid an estimated $156,541. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.

2010

In 2010, the Attorney General of Illinois was paid an estimated $156,600 according to the Council of State Governments.

Former officeholders

Since 1819, Illinois has had 41 attorneys general.

Click "show" for former officeholders.

#	Name	Took office	Left office	Party
1	Daniel Pope Cook	1819	1819
2	William Mears	1819	1821
3	Samuel D. Lockwood	1821	1823
4	James Turney	1823	1829
5	George Forquer	1829	1832
6	James Semple	1833	1834
7	Ninian W. Edwards	1834	1835
8	Jesse B. Thomas, Jr.	1835	1836
9	Walter B. Scates	1836	1837
10	Usher F. Linder	1837	1838
11	George W. Olney	1838	1839
12	Wickliffe Kitchell	1839	1840
13	Josiah Lamborn	1840	1843
14	James A. McDougall	1843	1846
15	David B. Campbell	1846	1848
16	Robert G. Ingersoll	1867	1869
17	Washington Bushnell	1869	1873
18	James K. Edsall	1873	1881
19	James McCartney	1881	1885
20	George Hunt	1885	1893
21	Maurice T. Moloney	1893	1897
22	Edward C. Akin	1897	1901
23	Howland J. Hamlin	1901	1905
24	William H. Stead	1905	1913
25	Patrick J. Lucey	1912	1917
26	Edward J. Brundage	1917	1925
27	Oscar E. Carlstrom	1925	1933
28	Otto Kerner	1933	1938
29	John Edward A. Cassidy	1938	1941
30	George F. Barrett	1941	1949
31	Ivan A. Elliott	1949	1953
32	Latham Castle	1953	1959
33	Grenville Beardsley	1959	1960
34	William L. Guild	1960	1961
35	William G. Clark	1961	1969
36	William J. Scott	1969	1980
37	Tyrone C. Fahner	1980	1983
38	Neil F. Hartigan	1983	1991
39	Roland W. Burris	1991	1995
40	Jim Ryan	1995	2003
41	Lisa Madigan	2003	Present

Contact Info

Capitol Address:
Office of Attorney General
100 West Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601

Phone: (312) 814-3000
Toll Free Phone: (800) 964-3013

See also

• Lisa Madigan, Attorney General of Illinois
• Governor of Illinois
• Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
• Illinois Secretary of State
• Illinois State Board of Elections

External links

Suggest a link

• Website of the Illinois Attorney General
• Biography of Current Illinois Attorney General