Attorney General of Vermont

Vermont Attorney General
General information
Office Type:	Partisan
Office website:	Official Link
2010 FY Budget:	$7,573,301
Term limits:	None
Structure
Length of term:	2 years
Authority:	Vermont State Code, Title 3, Chapter 7, § 151
Selection Method:	Elected
Current Officeholder
Name:	Bill Sorrell
Officeholder Party:	Democratic
Assumed office:	May 1997
Compensation:	$108,202
Elections
Next election:	November 4, 2014
Last election:	November 6, 2012
Other Vermont 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 Board

The Attorney General of Vermont is an elected executive position in the Vermont state government. The attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer in the state and is responsible for representing the state in all matters in which the state is a party or has an interest. Additionally, the attorney general will advise the elective and appointive state officers on questions of law relating to their official duties and can present opinions on legal matters.

Current officeholder

The current officeholder is Bill Sorrell.

Authority

The office of Vermont Attorney General is established in Title 3, Chapter 7, § 151 of the Vermont State Code.

§ 151:

An attorney general shall be elected at the same time and in the same manner as provided for the election of other state officers. He or she shall be sworn to the faithful discharge of his duties. His or her term of office shall commence when his or her election is declared by the committee appointed by the senate and house of representatives to canvass the votes, agreeably with 17 V.S.A. { 2592, or when elected by the general assembly pursuant to said section, and continue for a term of two years.

Elections

The governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer and auditor are elected every two years, on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November.

In Vermont, state executives are elected in even numbered years; 2010, 2012, and 2014 are all election years.

2012

See also: Vermont attorney general election, 2012

Attorney General of Vermont General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Bill Sorrell Incumbent	57.9%	164,441
	Republican	Jack McMullen	33.3%	94,588
	Progressive	Ed Stanak	5.5%	15,629
	Liberty Union	Rosemarie Jackowski	3%	8,533
	Independent	Write-in	0.2%	588
Total Votes				283,779
Election Results via Vermont Secretary of State.

Vacancies

Section 20 of the Vermont Constitution, grants the governor the power to fill a vacancy in the office by appointment. The appointee shall serve until the next regularly scheduled election.

Duties

The specific duties of the attorney general are outlined in Title 3, Chapter 7 of the Vermont State Code:

• may represent the state in all civil and criminal matters as at common law and as allowed by statute
• shall also have the same authority throughout the state as a state's attorney
• have the general supervision of criminal prosecutions
• consult with and advise the state's attorneys in matters relating to the duties of their office, and shall assist them by attending the grand jury in the examination of any cause or in the preparation of indictments and informations when, in his judgment, the interests of the state require it
• may appoint a deputy attorney general with the approval of the governor, remove him or her at pleasure, and be responsible for his or her acts
• may appoint such assistant attorneys general and special assistant attorneys general as may be necessary for the proper and efficient performance of his department, and with the approval of the governor, fix their pay, remove them at pleasure and be responsible for their acts

Additionally, the Attorney General "shall advise the elective and appointive state officers on questions of law relating to their official duties and shall furnish a written opinion of such matters, when so requested. He shall have general supervision of matters and actions in favor of the state and of those instituted by or against state officers wherein interests of the state are involved and may settle such matters and actions as the interests of the state require."

Divisions

• Civil Division
• Criminal Division
• Environmental Protection Division
• General Counseling and Administrative Law
• Human Services Division
• Public Protection Division

State budget

The budget for the Attorney General's office in Fiscal Year 2010 was $7,573,301.

Compensation

In 2010, the Attorney General of Vermont was paid an estimated $108,202, according to the Council of State Governments.

Contact information

Vermont Attorney General's Office
109 State Street
Montpelier VT 05609-1001

Phone: 802-828-3171
Fax: 802-828-2154
E-mail: aginfo@atg.state.vt.us

See also

• William Sorrell, Attorney General of Vermont
• Governor of Vermont
• Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
• Vermont Secretary of State

External links

Suggest a link

• Office of the Vermont Attorney General
• About the office of the Vermont Attorney General
• Duties and Responsibilities of the Vermont Attorney General