Attorney_General_of_Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Attorney General

Pennsylvania Attorney General

Attorney general for the U.S. state of Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It became an elected office in 1980.[1] The current attorney general is Democrat Michelle Henry.

Quick Facts Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Appointer ...

On August 15, 2016, then-Attorney General Kathleen Kane was convicted of criminal charges, including conspiracy, perjury, and obstruction of justice,[2][3] and announced her resignation the following day, effective August 17.[4] Consequently, as the Solicitor General, Bruce Castor assumed the office as Acting Attorney General.[5] Governor Tom Wolf nominated Bruce Beemer to serve out the remaining balance of Kane's term which expired in January 2017. Democrat Josh Shapiro succeeded Beemer. Shapiro was elected governor in 2022, and appointed Michelle Henry as his successor in 2023. Henry was confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate in her own right later that year.

Authority and responsibilities

The Commonwealth Attorneys Act of 1980[6] established the Office of Attorney General as an independent office headed by an elected attorney general.[7] The office has the responsibility for the prosecution of those crimes prosecuted by the commonwealth, including organized crime and public corruption, as well as civil litigation on behalf of some, but not all, commonwealth agencies and the civil enforcement of some commonwealth laws, including laws pertaining to consumer protection and charities. The attorney general represents the commonwealth in all actions brought by or against the commonwealth and reviews all proposed rules and regulations by commonwealth agencies.[8]

The attorney general also serves as a member of the Board of Pardons, the joint Committee on Documents, the Hazardous Substances Transportation Board, the Board of Finance and Revenue, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the Civil Disorder Commission and the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission.

List of attorneys general

There have been four styles of selection of Pennsylvania Attorney General. The first phase was colonial, with the first attorney general commissioned in 1683. At the outbreak of the Revolution, the sitting attorney general, a loyalist, fled, and new attorneys general were appointed, under the Constitution of 1776, by the state president (or vice-president) with the Supreme Executive Council. Under the new constitution of 1790, attorneys general were appointed by the governor, subject to approval by the legislature (similar to how the United States Attorney General is appointed by the president of the United States). This remained in the Constitutions of 1838, 1874, and 1968. In 1978, voters approved an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution making the office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General an elected position, effective as of the general election of 1980.

Note that before William Penn, there were attorneys general for New Sweden as early as 1643.[9]

Colonial attorneys general

Under the influence of David Lloyd, who served 1686–1710, Pennsylvania developed its first judicial system. Andrew Hamilton, who served 1717–1726, strongly influenced Pennsylvania law away from some aspects of the British system.[9]

President/Council appointed attorneys general

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Attorneys general appointed between 1791 and 1920

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Attorneys general appointed between 1920 and 1980

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Occupants of the elected Pennsylvania Attorney General office (1981–present)

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See also

References

  1. [1]
    Penn. Const. Art. 4, § 4.1
  2. [2]
    Dale, Maryclaire (16 August 2016). "Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane Found Guilty on All Charges in Perjury Trial". Associated Press. NBC 10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  3. [3]
    Bidgood, Jess (16 August 2016). "Pennsylvania's Attorney General Is Convicted on All Counts". New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  4. [4]
    Susannah Cullinane; Ralph Ellis. "Pennsylvania attorney general resigning". cnn.com.
  5. [5]
    Bumsted, Brad, (19 July 2016), "Castor Next In Line to Be Pennsylvania Attorney General", Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Accessed September 20, 2016.
  6. [6]
    71 P. S. §732-101
  7. [7]
    OGC: Commonwealth Attorneys Act
  8. [8]
    "The Office: Attorney General Tom Corbett - Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General". Archived from the original on 2008-01-10. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  9. [9]
    "History of the Office of Attorney General". Archived from the original on 2006-09-23.
  10. [10]
    Morris was Clerk of the General Assembly
  11. [11]
    Pennsylvania Archives. 1858. p. 612.
  12. [12]
    Bradford accepted state Supreme Court appointment
  13. [13]
    Franklin accepted state judicial appointment
  14. [14]
    Smith accepted a position as Justice on the state Supreme Court
  15. [15]
    Lewis accepted a position as President Judge of the Eighth Judicial District
  16. [16]
    See article for citations regarding the dates.
  17. [17]
    Todd accepted a Philadelphia judicial appointment.
  18. [18]
    This is the date of his judicial commission; there is no date listed in The Pennsylvania Manual.
  19. [19]
    Kane accepted a federal judiciary appointment.
  20. [20]
    Campbell accepted the position of U. S. Postmaster General.
  21. [21]
    Resigned
  22. [22]
    "Schnader Takes Oath". Chester Times. International News Service. November 1, 1930. p. 8. Retrieved November 15, 2012. William A. Schnader, named attorney-general of Pennsylvania Wednesday to succeed Cyrus E. Wood when the latter resigned, took the oath of office at noon at the capital today.
  23. [23]
    "Forms Law Firm". Chester Times. January 14, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved November 15, 2012. William A. Schnader, who relinquishes the office of attorney general in Governor Pinchot's cabinet tomorrow…
  24. [24]
    Official Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania for the Years 1937 and 1938 (PDF). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 1939. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2012. Charles J. Margiotti, Attorney General (January 15, 1935 to April 27, 1938); Guy K. Bard, Attorney General (April 27, 1938 to January 17, 1939)
  25. [25]
    "14 New Cabinet Members Safe; Two Are Held Up". Chester Times. United Press. January 18, 1939. p. 2. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  26. [26]
    "Harrisburg Man to Fill Reno's Place; E. Russel Shockley Is New Attorney General". New Castle News. International News Service. December 31, 1942. p. 7.
  27. [27]
    Jones, John E. (January 14, 1943). "Martin Picks Duff, Neel For Cabinet". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 1. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  28. [28]
    "Blast Chesnut, Wilhelm, Smock Appointments". Chester Times. United Press. January 22, 1947. p. 2, no. 9. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  29. [29]
    "Margiotti To Send Aide to Job Probe". Pittsburgh Press. July 5, 1950. p. 6. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  30. [30]
    "Office of Attorney General". Pennsylvania Department of State. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  31. [31]
    "Margiotti Bows Out Of Cabinet". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. March 3, 1951. p. 2. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  32. [32]
    Official Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania for the Years 1953 and 1954 (PDF). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 1954. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012. Robert E. Woodside (Resigned October 1, 1953); Frank F. Truscott (Commissioned October 13, 1953)
  33. [33]
    Official Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania for the Years 1955 and 1956 (PDF). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 1956. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012. Herbert B. Cohen (Commissioned January 18, 1955, Resigned December 17, 1956); Thomas D. McBride (Commissioned December 17, 1956)
  34. [34]
    Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania: 1961–1962 (PDF). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 1962. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012. Anne X. Alpern (Resigned August 28, 1961); David Stahl (Commissioned August 29, 1961)
  35. [35]
    Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania: 1963–1966 (PDF). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 1966. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012. Walter E. Alessandroni (Died May 8, 1966); Edward Friedman (May 11, 1966 to January 17, 1967)
  36. [36]
    Commonwealth v. Rozier, 67 Pa. D. & C. 2d 536, 539 (Common Pleas Court of York County, Pennsylvania, 1974) ("…he went out of office on July 3, 1970").
  37. [37]
    "2 Crime Unit Members Ousted In Pennsylvania". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. January 2, 1973. p. 7. Retrieved November 9, 2012. On Sunday, Gov. Milton J. Shapp…forced the resignation of Attorney General J. Shane Creamer….
  38. [38]
    Taylor, John (September 6, 1973). "Probe Centers on Free Booze Charge". Pittsburgh Press. p. 2. Retrieved November 9, 2012. …Creamer was ousted last Dec. 31
  39. [39]
    "Shapp Names Kane As New Attorney General". The News-Dispatch. United Press International. December 27, 1974. p. 2. Retrieved November 9, 2012. …Israel Packel, who submitted his resignation letter Monday.
  40. [40]
    "Gerald Gornish Takes Attorney General Post". Observer–Reporter. Associated Press. June 8, 1978. p. A-6. Retrieved November 9, 2012. Kane bowed out quietly Wednesday….
  41. [41]
    Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania: 1979–1981 (PDF). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012. J. Justin Blewitt, Jr., acting Attorney General (January 1, 1979 to January 16, 1979); Edward G. Biester, Jr., Attorney General (January 16, 1979 to May 19, 1980); Harvey Bartle III, Attorney General (May 20, 1980 to January 20, 1981)
  42. [42]
    Jensen, Edward (January 21, 1981). "Three state officials take oaths of office". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 5. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  43. [43]
    "Casey welcomes Knoll, Hafer, Preate to office". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. January 18, 1989. p. 1. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  44. [44]
    Moran, Robert (June 24, 1995). "Preate Is Gone But Not Quite Forgotten The Attorney General's Resignation Became Official Yesterday". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A-1. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  45. [45]
    Forester, John D. Jr. (October 4, 1995). "Corbett sworn in, pledges review of probe". Reading Eagle. p. 1. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  46. [46]
    Ove, Torsten (December 16, 2004). "Fisher sworn in as federal judge". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  47. [47]
    Bumsted, Brad; Wereschagin, Mike (January 18, 2011). "Corbett promises fiscal discipline, responsible government as he takes oath". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  48. [48]
    "Linda L. Kelly becomes Pennsylvania Attorney General" (Press release). Pennsylvania Attorney General. May 27, 2011. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012. Attorney General Linda L. Kelly took the oath of office today during a private ceremony in Harrisburg, officially assuming the powers and duties of Pennsylvania's top law enforcement officer.
  49. [49]
    Olson, Laura (January 15, 2013). "Three Democratic row officers sworn in". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
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