The attorney general of Minnesota is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Thirty individuals have held the office of Attorney General since statehood. The incumbent is Keith Ellison, a Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party member.

Election and term of office The attorney general is elected by the people on Election Day in November, and takes office on the first Monday of the next January. There is no limit to the number of terms an attorney general may hold. To be elected attorney general, a person must be a qualified voter, permanently resident in the state of Minnesota at least 30 days prior to the election, and at least 21 years of age.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of the attorney general, the governor may appoint a successor to serve the balance of the term. The attorney general may also be recalled by the voters or removed from office through an impeachment trial.

Powers and duties The attorney general is the chief law officer for the state of Minnesota, and as such, represents the state of Minnesota parens patriae in both state and federal court as well as in administrative proceedings, such as matters of adjudication or rulemaking. In addition, the Office of the Attorney General handles felony criminal appeals, issues formal opinions on questions of constitutional or statutory law, and provides legal advice, litigation, and appellate services to over 100 state agencies, boards, and commissions. On occasion, these services are extended to rural county prosecutors in serious felonies and criminal prosecutions. Separately, the attorney general's office enforces state antitrust and consumer protection laws, regulates charities, and advocates for residents and small businesses in utility matters.

In addition to their functional responsibilities, the attorney general is an ex officio member of the Board of Pardons, the Executive Council, the Land Exchange Board, the Governing Board for the Minnesota Historical Society, the Records Disposition Panel, and the State Board of Investment.

List of attorneys general

Minnesota Territory Image Name Took office Left office Political party Lorenzo A. Babcock 1849 1853Whig LaFayette Emmett 1853 1858Democratic

In 1886, elections were moved from odd years to even years. Beginning with the 1962 election, the term of the office increased from two to four years.

Parties

State of Minnesota

No. Image Name Term of office Political party Election Law school 1Charles H. Berry 1858–1860Republican 1857 Read law 2 Gordon E. Cole 1860–1866 Republican 185918611863 Harvard Law School3 William J. Colvill 1866–1868 Union Democrat 1865 Read law under Millard Fillmore4Francis R. E. Cornell 1868–1874 Republican 186718691871 Read law 5 George P. Wilson 1874–1880 Republican 187318751877 Read law6Charles M. Start 1880–1881 Republican 1879 Read law under William C. Wilson7 William John Hahn 1881–1887 Republican 18811883 Read law8Moses E. Clapp 1887–1893Republican 188618881890 University of Wisconsin Law School9Henry W. Childs 1893–1899Republican 189218941896 Read law10Wallace B. Douglas 1899–1904 Republican189819001902 University of Michigan Law School11 William J. Donahower 1904–1905 Republican Read law12Edward T. Young1905–1909Republican19041906 University of Minnesota Law School13George T. Simpson 1909–1912Republican 19081910 Read law14Lyndon A. Smith 1912–1918 Republican 191219141916 Georgetown University Law Center15Clifford L. Hilton 1918–1927Republican19181920192219241926University of Wisconsin Law School16 Albert F. Pratt 1927–1928RepublicanUniversity of Minnesota Law School17G. Aaron Youngquist 1928–1929 Republican 1928 St. Paul College of Law18Henry N. Benson 1929–1933Republican1930University of Minnesota Law School19 Harry H. Peterson 1933–1936Farmer-Labor 193219341936 University of Minnesota Law School20 William S. Ervin 1936–1939 Farmer-Labor University of Minnesota Law School21 Joseph A. A. Burnquist 1939–1955 Republican 19381940194219441946194819501952University of Minnesota Law School22Miles Lord 1955–1960DFL 195419561958 University of Minnesota Law School23Walter Mondale 1960–1964 DFL 19601962 University of Minnesota Law School24 Robert W. Mattson Sr. 1964–1967 DFL University of Minnesota Law School25Douglas M. Head 1967–1971 Republican 1966 University of Minnesota Law School26Warren Spannaus 1971–1983 DFL 197019741978 University of Minnesota Law School27Skip Humphrey 1983–1999 DFL 1982198619901994 University of Minnesota Law School28Mike Hatch 1999–2007 DFL 19982002 University of Minnesota Law School29 Lori Swanson 2007–2019 DFL 200620102014 William Mitchell College of Law30 Keith Ellison 2019–present DFL 20182022 University of Minnesota Law School Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party: On April 15, 1944, the state Democratic Party and the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party merged and created the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL). It is affiliated with the national Democratic Party.

See also University of Minnesota Law School William Mitchell College of Law Attorney General of South Dakota

References

External links Minnesota Attorney General articles at ABA Journal News and Commentary at FindLaw Minnesota Statutes at Law.Justia.com U.S. Supreme Court Opinions – "Cases with title containing: State of Minnesota" at FindLaw Minnesota State Bar Association Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson profile at National Association of Attorneys General Press releases at Minnesota Attorney General