The attorney general of New Mexico, an elected executive officer of the state, oversees the New Mexico Attorney General's Office and serves as head of the New Mexico Department of Justice.
The officeholder, who is required to be a licensed attorney, is fifth in succession to the office of Governor of New Mexico, after the Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico, Secretary of State of New Mexico, President pro tempore of the New Mexico Senate and the Speaker of New Mexico House of Representatives.
The attorney general of New Mexico functions as the state's chief legal officer, legal counsel to state government, consumer advocate and guardian of the public interest.
Statutory responsibilities
The officeholder represents the state before any courts or agencies when the public interest requires or when requested by the Governor and prosecutes and defends all causes in the New Mexico Supreme Court, New Mexico Court of Appeals, or any other court or tribunal in which the state is a party or is interested. The New Mexico Attorney General prosecutes and defends all actions and proceedings involving any state employee in their official capacity, as well as may represent residential or small business consumers before the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission.
Upon request, the AG will provide written legal opinions to the legislature, any state official, or any district attorney on any subject pending before one of these officials. In matters involving the state Election Code the AG provides legal assistance to the Secretary of State of New Mexico.
The AG drafts contracts, bonds, and other instruments as required for use by the state.
At the governor's direction, the AG may attend and assist in the trial of any indictment or information in any county of the state. When a District Attorney fails or refuses to act, the AG may act on behalf of a county in any criminal or civil case.
In matters of the impeachment of a state legislator or employee, the AG initiates conflict of interest enforcement actions. The AG also prosecutes removal proceedings against district attorneys.
The AG establishes and maintains a register of all documents filed by charitable organizations and makes it available for public inspection.
List of New Mexico Attorneys General
Parties
# Image Name Took office Left office Party Years in office 1 Frank W. Clancy 1912 1916 Republican 5Since the first state election was in an odd-numbered year (1911), the term lasted five years. 2 Harry L. Patton 1917 1918 Democratic 2 3 Oscar O. Askren 1919 1920 Democratic 2 4 Harry S. Bowman 1921 1922 Democratic 2 5 Milton J. Helmick 1923 1924 Democratic 2 6 John W. Armstrong 1925 1926 Democratic <2Died while in office 7 Fred E. Wilson 1926 1926 Democratic <1Appointed by Governor Hannett in 1926 8 Robert C. Dow 1927 1928 Democratic 2 9 Miguel A. Otero III 1929 1930 Republican 2 10 Ernest K. Neumann 1931 1934 Democratic 4 11 Frank H. Patton 1935 1938 Democratic 4 12 Filo Sedillo 1939 1940 Democratic 2 13 Edward P. Chase 1941 1944 Democratic <4Resigned in 1944. 14 Clyde C. McCullough 1944 1948 Democratic <5Appointed by Governor Dempsey in 1944. 15 Joe L. Martínez 1949 1952 Democratic 4 16 Richard H. Robinson 1953 1956 Democratic 4 17 Fred M. Standley 1957 1958 Democratic 2 18 Frank B. Zinn 1959 1959 Democratic <1Resigned in 1959. 19 Hilton A. Dickson Jr. 1959 1960 Democratic <2Appointed by Governor Burroughs in 1959. 20 Earl E. Hartley 1961 1964 Democratic 4 21 Boston E. Witt 1965 1968 Democratic 4 22 James A. Maloney 1969 1970 Democratic 2 23 David L. Norvell 1971 1974 Democratic 4 24 Toney Anaya 1975 1978 Democratic 4 25 Jeff Bingaman 1979 1982 Democratic 4 26 Paul G. Bardacke 1983 1986 Democratic 4 27 Harold Stratton 1987 1990 Republican 4 28 Tom Udall 1991 1998 Democratic 8 29 Patricia A. Madrid 1999 2006 Democratic 8 30 Gary King 2007 2014 Democratic 8 31 Hector Balderas 2015 2022 Democratic 8 32 Raúl Torrez 2023 Incumbent Democratic1
References
External links
New Mexico Attorney General official website New Mexico Attorney General articles at ABA Journal News and Commentary at FindLaw New Mexico Statutes at Law.Justia.com U.S. Supreme Court Opinions – "Cases with title containing: State of New Mexico" at FindLaw State Bar of New Mexico New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas profile at National Association of Attorneys General Press releases at New Mexico Attorney General