The Maine attorney general is the chief legal advisor and prosecutor of the state of Maine. The constitutional basis of the office is Article IX, Section 11 of the Maine Constitution, and the holder of the position is chosen biennially by the Maine Legislature in joint session. Maine is the only state to select its attorney general in such a manner; in 2023 a group of state Republicans called for the attorney general to be selected by popular vote, though no action was taken on the proposal.
The powers of the attorney general are derived from the Maine Revised Statues Annotated, Title 5, Chapter 9. These include representing the state in civil actions, investigating and prosecuting homicides, advising district attorneys, and providing written opinions on matters of law at the request of the governor or the legislature. The attorney general is empowered to appoint deputy and assistant attorneys general, who serve at the attorney general's pleasure.
List of Maine attorneys general
No. Image Name Hometown Took office Left office Party 1 Erastus Foote Wiscasset 18201831 Democratic-Republican 2 Jonathan P. Rogers Bangor 18321833 Democratic 3 Nathan Clifford Newfield 18341837 Democratic 4 Daniel Goodenow Alfred 1838 1838 Democratic 5 Stephen Emery Paris 18391840 Democratic 6 Daniel Goodenow Alfred 18411841 Democratic 7 Otis L. Bridges Calais 18421843 Democratic 8 Wyman B. S. Moor Waterville 18441847 Democratic 9 Samuel H. Blake Bangor 1848 1848 Democratic 10 Henry Tallman Bath 18491852 Democratic 11 George EvansPortland 18531854 Whig 12 John S. Abbott Norridgewock 18551855 Republican 13 George Evans Portland 18561856Whig 14 Nathan D. Appleton Alfred 18571859 15 G.W. Ingersoll Bangor 18601860 16 Josiah Hayden Drummond Portland 1860 1863 Republican 17 John A. Peters Bangor 18641866Republican 18 William P. Frye Lewiston 18671869Republican 19 Thomas Brackett Reed Portland 18701872Republican 20 Harris M. Plaisted Bangor 18731875 Republican 21 Lucilius A. Emery Ellsworth 18761878 Republican 22 William H. McLellan Belfast 18791879Democratic 23 Henry B. Cleaves Portland 18801884 Republican 24 Orville D. Baker Augusta 18851888 Republican 25 Charles E. Littlefield Rockland 18891892Republican 26 Frederick A. Powers Houlton 18931896 Republican 27 William T. Haines Waterville 18971900Republican 28 George M. Seiders Portland 19011904 Republican 29 Hannibal Emery Hamlin Ellsworth 19051908 Republican 30 Warren C. Philbrook Waterville 19091910 Republican 31 Cyrus R. Tupper Boothbay Harbor 19111911 Democratic 32 William Robinson Pattangall Waterville 19111912 Democratic 33 Scott Wilson Portland 19131914 Republican 34 William Robinson Pattangall Waterville 19151916 Democratic 35 Guy H. Sturgis Portland 19171920 Republican 36 Ransford W. Shaw Houlton 19211924 Republican 37 Raymond Fellows Bangor 19251928 Republican 38 Clement F. Robinson Portland 19291932 Republican 39 Clyde R. Chapman Belfast 19331936 Republican 40 Franz U. Burkett Portland 19371940 Republican 41 Frank I. Cowan Portland 19411944 Republican 42 Ralph W. Farris Augusta 19451950 Republican 43 Alexander A. LaFleur Portland 19511954 Republican 44 Frank F. Harding Rockland 19551958 Republican 45 Frank E. Hancock York 19591964 Republican 46 Richard J. Dubord Waterville 19651966 Democratic 47 James S. Erwin York 19671971 Republican 48 Jon A. Lund Augusta 19721975 Republican 49 Joseph E. Brennan Portland 19751979Democratic 50 Richard S. Cohen Augusta 19791981 Republican 51 James E. Tierney Lisbon Falls 19811991Democratic 52 Michael E. Carpenter Houlton 19911995 Democratic 53 Andrew Ketterer Madison 19952001Democratic 54 G. Steven Rowe Portland 20012009Democratic 55 Janet Mills Farmington 20092011Democratic 56 William Schneider Durham 20112013Republican 57 Janet Mills Farmington 20132019Democratic 58 Aaron Frey Bangor 2019presentDemocratic
References
External links Maine Attorney General official website Maine Attorney General articles at ABA Journal News and Commentary at FindLaw Maine Revised Statutes at Law.Justia.com U.S. Supreme Court Opinions - "Cases with title containing: State of Maine" at FindLaw Maine State Bar Association Maine Attorney General Janet T. Mills profile at National Association of Attorneys General News and reports at Maine Attorney General