The attorney general of Arkansas, usually known simply as the attorney general (AG), is one of Arkansas's seven constitutional officers. The officeholder serves as the state's top law enforcement officer and consumer advocate.
History The attorney general was not originally a state constitutional officer but rather was created by Act 1 of 1843, which designated the Arkansas attorney for the Fifth Judicial District as the attorney general. The first attorney general of Arkansas was Robert W. Johnson. The Arkansas Constitution of 1868 made the post elective, though it required only that the attorney general “perform such duties as are now, or may hereafter, be prescribed by law.” This was reaffirmed in the constitution of 1874. Act 131 of 1911 laid out four general responsibilities of the attorney general's office: 1) to give opinions to state officers and agencies “upon any constitutional or other legal question that may concern the official action of said officers”; 2) to defend the interest of the state in federal court and representing all state officers, boards, and commissions in litigation involving the interests of the state; 3) to furnish any board or commission an opinion as to the validity of the title on any land they seek to purchase; and 4) to make a biennial report to the governor and the Arkansas General Assembly on all transactions of the attorney general's office.
Role and duties The attorney general represents state agencies and commissions in courts of law, giving opinions on issues presented by legislators and prosecutors, handling criminal matters and habeas corpus matters in the state, and advocating for citizens on issues pertaining to the environment, antitrust, and consumer protection.
List of attorneys general Image Name Took office Left office Party Robert Ward Johnson 18431848Democratic George C. Watkins 18481851Whig, then Democratic John J. Clendenin 18511856Democratic Thomas Johnson 18561858Democratic J. L. Hollowell 18581861Democratic P. Jordan 18611862Confederate Sam W. Williams 18621864Confederate Charles T. Jordan 18641865Republican R. S. Gantt 18651866Republican R. H. Deadman 18661868Republican J. R. Montgomery 18681873Republican Thomas D. W. Yonley 18731874Republican J. L. Witherspoon May 1874November 1874Democratic Simon P. Hughes 18741876Democratic W. F. Henderson 18771881Democratic C. B. Moore 18811885Democratic Daniel Webster Jones 18851889Democratic W. E. Atkinson 18891893Democratic James P. Clarke 18931895Democratic E. B. Kinsworthy 18951899Democratic Jeff Davis 18991901Democratic George W. Murphy 19011905Democratic Robert L. Rogers 19051907Democratic William F. Kirby 19071909Democratic Hal L. Norwood 19091913Democratic William L. Moose19131915Democratic Wallace Davis 19151917Democratic John D. Arbuckle 19171921Democratic J. S. Utley 19211925Democratic W. H. Applegate 19251929Democratic Hal L. Norwood 19291934Democratic Walter L. Pope 19341935Democratic Carl E. Bailey 19351937Democratic Jack Holt, Sr. 19371943Democratic Guy E. Williams 19431949Democratic Ike Murry 19491953Democratic Tom Gentry 19531957Democratic Bruce Bennett 19571961Democratic J. Frank Holt 1961December 1962Democratic Jack Holt, Jr. (acting) December 19621963Democratic Bruce Bennett 1963January 10, 1967Democratic Joe Purcell January 10, 1967January 12, 1971Democratic Ray Thornton January 12, 1971January 9, 1973Democratic Rodney Parham (acting) January 9, 1973January 9, 1973Democratic Jim Guy Tucker January 9, 1973January 3, 1977Democratic Billy Roy Wilson (acting) 19761977Democratic Bill Clinton January 3, 1977January 9, 1979Democratic Steve Clark January 9, 1979November 1990Democratic Ron Fields (acting) November 1990December 1990Democratic Mary Stallcup (acting) December 1990January 15, 1991Democratic Winston Bryant January 15, 1991January 12, 1999Democratic Mark Pryor January 12, 1999January 3, 2003Democratic Leon Johnson (acting) January 3, 2003January 14, 2003Democratic Mike Beebe January 14, 2003January 9, 2007Democratic Dustin McDaniel January 9, 2007January 13, 2015Democratic Leslie Rutledge January 13, 2015January 10, 2023Republican Tim Griffin January 10, 2023PresentRepublican
See also Attorney General of the United States
References
External links
Official
General information
Attorneys General of Arkansas at The Political Graveyard