Arkansas Attorney General
Encyclopedia
The Arkansas Attorney General is an executive position and constitutional officer within the Arkansas
government. The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement/legal officer and lawyer for Arkansas. The position is elected every four years, e.g. 2006 and 2010, at the same time as the Governor.
The current Attorney General is Democrat Dustin McDaniel
, who was elected on November 7, 2006 and sworn in as the 55th Attorney General of Arkansas on January 9, 2007. The most well-known Arkansas Attorney General is Bill Clinton
, who was elected to the position in 1976 and served until he was elected governor in 1978. Other former attorneys general include Bruce Bennett
, Joe Purcell
, Ray Thornton
, Jim Guy Tucker
, Mark Pryor
, Steve Clark, and Mike Beebe.
According to the official website, the duties of the Attorney General include representing 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
.
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
government. The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement/legal officer and lawyer for Arkansas. The position is elected every four years, e.g. 2006 and 2010, at the same time as the Governor.
The current Attorney General is Democrat Dustin McDaniel
Dustin McDaniel
Dustin McDaniel is the current Attorney General of Arkansas. A member of the Democratic Party, he assumed office on January 9, 2007, succeeding Mike Beebe, who became Governor of Arkansas.- Background :...
, who was elected on November 7, 2006 and sworn in as the 55th Attorney General of Arkansas on January 9, 2007. The most well-known Arkansas Attorney General is Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, who was elected to the position in 1976 and served until he was elected governor in 1978. Other former attorneys general include Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett (Arkansas politician)
Bruce Bennett was a Democratic politician from El Dorado, Arkansas, who served as his state's attorney general from 1957–1960 and from 1963–1966...
, Joe Purcell
Joe Purcell
Joseph Gregory Purcell -References:...
, Ray Thornton
Ray Thornton
Raymond Hoyt "Ray" Thornton, Jr. is a former U.S. Representative from the US state of Arkansas.Thornton earned a degree in political science from Yale University and, later, a law degree from the University of Arkansas...
, Jim Guy Tucker
Jim Guy Tucker
James "Jim" Guy Tucker, Jr. is an Arkansas political figure. He served as the 43rd Governor of Arkansas, the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, Arkansas Attorney General, and U.S. Representative...
, Mark Pryor
Mark Pryor
Mark Lunsford Pryor is the senior United States Senator from Arkansas, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party and former Attorney General of Arkansas....
, Steve Clark, and Mike Beebe.
According to the official website, the duties of the Attorney General include representing state agencies and commissions in courts of law, giving opinions on issues presented by legislators and prosecutors, handling criminal matters and habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
matters in the state, and advocating for citizens on issues pertaining to the environment
Environmental policy
Environmental policy is any [course of] action deliberately taken [or not taken] to manage human activities with a view to prevent, reduce, or mitigate harmful effects on nature and natural resources, and ensuring that man-made changes to the environment do not have harmful effects on...
, antitrust
Antitrust
The United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
, and consumer protection
Consumer protection
Consumer protection laws designed to ensure fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional...
.