Oregon Attorney General
| Oregon Attorney General | |
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Great Seal of the State of Oregon
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| Details of Office | |
| Type: | Partisan |
| Selection: | Statewide election |
| Term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Statutory |
| Established: | 1891 |
| Incumbent | |
| Name: | Ellen Rosenblum |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Term ends: | 2013 |
The Oregon Attorney General is a statutory office within the executive branch of the state of Oregon, and serves as the chief legal officer of the state, heading its Department of Justice with its six operating divisions. The Attorney General is chosen by statewide partisan election to serve a term of four years. The incumbent, Ellen Rosenblum, was sworn in on June 29, 2012, replacing John Kroger, a Democrat who was elected in 2008 and resigned six months before the end of his term to become President of Reed College.
The Attorney General represents the state of Oregon in all court actions and other legal proceedings in which it is a party or has an interest. They also conduct all legal business of state departments, boards and commissions that require legal counsel. Ballot titles for measures in Oregon elections are written by the Attorney General, who also and appoints the assistant attorneys general who serve as counsel to the various state departments, boards and commissions.
The Attorney General provides written opinions upon any question of law in which any government entity within the state may have an interest when requested by the governor, any state agency official or any member of the legislature, but is prohibited by law from rendering opinions or giving legal advice to any other persons or agencies.
An Act to Create the Office of Attorney-General , Provide the Duties and fix the Compensation, was enacted by the state legislature in 1891. Oregon's is only one of five state offices of Attorney General created by statute rather than by a provision of the constitution. The act established elections for the office, to be held every four years, any vacancy in the office to be filled by the governor until the next general election.
The act provided that the Attorney General be charged with litigating on behalf of the state, any "breach of contract, any bond or contract in which the state was interested," at the request of the governor, secretary of state, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, or any state board. The Attorney General was also to prosecute or defend all matters of interest to the state in the Supreme Court. Upon request, they could provide counsel and advice to county district attorneys. A requirement was also included for the keeping of records of opinions and official proceedings for future successors.
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