The Attorney General of Kentucky is an office created by the Kentucky Constitution. (Ky.Const. § 91). Under Kentucky law, he serves several roles, including the state's chief prosecutor (KRS 15.700), the state's chief law enforcement officer (KRS 15.700), and the state's chief law officer (KRS 15.020). As the chief prosecutor, the Attorney General is the Chairman of the Kentucky Prosecutors Advisory Council, which supervises the prosecutors of Kentucky (KRS 15.700, KRS 15.705). As chief law officer, he writes opinions to advise government officials and agencies concerning the law. (KRS 15.020). The Attorney General holds an ex officio seat on various Kentucky state boards and agencies.
The Attorney General of Kentucky is elected for a four-year term in the same year other statewide officers are elected, rather than being appointed as in some states such as Alaska. A 1992 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution permits the Attorney General of Kentucky to serve two consecutive terms. (Ky.Const. § 93). The Attorney General appoints a deputy and various Assistants Attorney General, who have the power to act on his behalf. (KRS 15.100(1).
The current Attorney General of Kentucky is Jack Conway, a Democrat who was elected on November 6th, 2007.
List of Attorneys General of Kentucky
- George Nicholas, 1792-1792
- John Breckinridge, 1793-1797
- John Breckinridge previously served in the Kentucky House of Representatives including as Speaker of the House; later served in the United States Senate and then as Attorney General of the United States
- James Blair, 1797-1820
- Joseph M. White, 1820
- Ben Hardin, 1820-1821
- Solomon P. Sharp, 1821-1825
- Solomon P. Sharp previously served in the United States House of Representatives and served in the Kentucky House of Representatives before and after serving as Attorney General of Kentucky
- Frederick W. S. Grayson, 1825-1825
- James W. Denny, 1825-1832
- Charles Morehead, 1832-1838
- Owen G. Cotes, 1838-1849
- M. C. Johnson, 1849
- James Harlan, 1849-1859
- Andrew J. James, 1859-1861
- John M. Harlan, 1861-1865
- John Marshall Harlan later became an associate justice of Supreme Court of the United States
- John Rodman, 1865-1875
- Thomas Moss, 1875-1879
- P. Watt Hardin, 1879-1889
- W. J. Hendricks, 1889-1896
- William S. Taylor, 1896-1900
- R. J. Breckinridge, 1900-1902
- C. J. Pratt, 1902-1904
- N. B. Hays, 1904-1908
- James Breathitt, 1908-1912
- James Garnett, 1912-1916
- M. M. Logan, 1916-1917
- M. M. Logan later became a member of the United States Senate
- Charles H. Morris, 1917-1920
- Charles I. Dawson, 1920-1923
- Charles I. Dawson previously served in the Kentucky House of Representatives and as Commonwealth's Attorney and County Attorney and later served as a federal judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
- T. B. McGregor, 1923-1924
- Frank E. Daugherty, 1924-1928
- James W. Cammack, 1928-1932
- Bailey P. Wooton, 1932-1936
- B. M. Vincent, 1936-1937
- Hubert Meredith, 1937-1944
- Eldon S. Dummit, 1944-1948
- Alvarado E. Funk, 1948-1952
- J. D. Buckman, Jr., 1952-1956
- Jo M. Ferguson, 1956-1960
- John Bayne Breckinridge, 1960-1964
- Robert Matthews, 1964-1968
- John Bayne Breckinridge, 1968-1972
- John Bayne Breckinridge was later elected to the United States House of Representatives from Central Kentucky
- Ed W. Hancock, 1972-1976
- Ed W. Hancock was later elected Auditor of Public Accounts
- Robert F. Stephens, 1976-1980
- Robert F. Stephens is a former Lexington-Fayette County Judge and later became Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court
- Steve Beshear, 1980-1984
- Steve Beshear is a former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives; he later became Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky and is the current Governor of Kentucky, having been elected in 2007
- David L. Armstrong, 1984-1988
- David L. Armstrong is a former Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney; he later became Jefferson County Judge Executive and Mayor of Louisville
- Frederic J. Cowan, 1988-1992
- Frederic J. Cowan had served previously in the Kentucky House of Representatives; he is currently serving as a Kentucky Circuit Court Judge
- Chris Gorman, 1992-1996
- Chris Gorman served previously as a Jefferson County Commissioner
- Ben Chandler, 1996-2003
- Ben Chandler served previously as Auditor of Public Accounts and currently serves in the United States House of Representatives
- Greg Stumbo, 2003-2007
- Greg Stumbo served previously in the Kentucky House of Representatives including as Majority Leader. After his term as Attorney General expired, Stumbo was re-elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives, where he currently serves as Speaker of the House.
- Jack Conway, 2007-Present
External links
- Kentucky Attorney General Website [1]
The Kentucky Attorney General's Office is divided into the following divisions:
- Administrative Hearings Division [2]
- Child Support Enforcement Commission (CSEC) [3]
- Kentucky Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) [4]
- Medicaid Fraud Division [5]
- Office of Civil and Environmental Law [6]
- Office of Consumer Protection [7]
- Office of Criminal Appeals [8]
- Office of Rate Intervention [9]
- Prosecutors Advisory Council [10]
- Special Prosecutions Division [11]
- Uninsured Employers' Fund [12]
- Office for Victims Advocacy [13]
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