Attorney General of South Dakota
| South Dakota Attorney General | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| 2013 FY Budget: | $21,498,844 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Authority: | South Dakota Constitution, Article 4, Section 7 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
 | |
| Name: | Marty J. Jackley |
| Officeholder Party: | Republican |
| Assumed office: | September 4, 2009 |
| Compensation: | $97,928 |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 4, 2014 |
| Last election: | November 2, 2010 |
| Other South Dakota Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
Contents |
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Marty J. Jackley (R). He has served in this position since September 4, 2009. Jackley was appointed by Gov. Mike Rounds (R) on August 14, 2009.
Authority
The attorney general's office is established in Article 4, Section 7 of the South Dakota Constitution.
Article IV, Section 7:
| There shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the general election of the Governor and every four years thereafter the following constitutional officers: attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and commissioner of school and public lands, who shall severally hold their offices for a term of four years. Commencing with the 1992 general election, no person may be elected to more than two consecutive terms as attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, or commissioner of school and public lands. |
Elections
Article IV, Section 7 specifies that the offices of attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and commissioner of school and public lands are to be elected every four years.
Term limits
Article IV, Section 7 also prevents any person from being elected to more than two consecutive terms as attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, or commissioner of school and public lands.
Vacancies
Article IV, Section 3 of the state constitution grants the governor the authority to fill, by appointment, any vacancy in the office of attorney general.
Duties
The attorney general has a variety of duties:
- Prosecuting and defending all actions in which the state has an interest, civil or criminal, in the Supreme Court, including all criminal appeals.
- Serving as legal advisor to the Governor and other constitutional officers.
- Defending the laws and the Constitution of the State of South Dakota.
- Serving as legal advisor to many of the State's boards and agencies.
- Consulting with and advising State's Attorneys, and in some circumstances providing assistance in prosecuting criminal cases.
- Issuing legal opinions upon the request of the Governor, Legislature, or certain state and local officials.
- Investigating and prosecuting drug cases and major felonies, including such crimes as homicide, burglary, and kidnapping.
- Protecting South Dakota consumers from scams and fraudulent activity.
- Investigating and prosecuting Medicaid fraud throughout the State.
- Operating the state forensic crime laboratory.[1]
Divisions
The office of the attorney general is composed of seven divisions:
- Appellate
- Consumer Protection
- Division of Criminal Investigation
- Drug Prosecution Unit
- Litigation
- Medicaid Fraud Control Unit
- Natural Resources
State budget
The budget for the Attorney General's office in Fiscal Year 2013 was $21,498,844.[2]
Compensation
In 2010, the Attorney General of South Dakota was paid an estimated $97,928 according to the Council of State Governments.[3]
Former officeholders
Click "show" for former officeholders.
