Attorney General of Alaska
| Alaska Attorney General | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $169,708 |
| 2024 FY Budget: | $112,616,900 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at pleasure of governor |
| Authority: | Alaska Statutes, Title 44, Chapter 23, Section 10 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by governor |
| Current Officeholder | |
Attorney General of Alaska
Treg Taylor | |
| Other Alaska Executive Offices | |
| Governor•Lieutenant Governor•Attorney General•Comptroller•Education Commissioner•Revenue Commissioner•Agriculture Director•Insurance Director•Natural Resources Commissioner•Labor Commissioner•Regulatory Commission | |
The Attorney General is the principal executive officer of the Alaska Department of Law, and is appointed by the governor. He or she "serves as the legal adviser for the governor and other state officers, prosecutes all violations of state criminal law, and enforces the consumer protection and unfair trade practices laws."[1]
Alaska has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current attorney general is Treg Taylor. He was appointed as acting attorney general by Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) on January 29, 2021, due to the resignation of Ed Sniffen.[2] He was confirmed on May 11, 2021.[3]
Authority
The attorney general's authority is based in statute, not the state's constitution. It establishes the office of attorney general as the "principal executive officer of the Department of Law.[4]
Alaska Statutes, Title 44, Chapter 23, Section 10
| The principal executive officer of the Department of Law is the attorney general. |
Qualifications
Like all principal executive officers in the Alaska government, the attorney general must "furnish corporate surety bonds in the instance and amount required by law," the cost of which is paid by the state. Otherwise, there are no special qualifications for the office of attorney general.[5]
Alaska Statutes, Title 44, Chapter 23, Section 50
| The principal executive officer of each department and subordinate officials shall furnish corporate surety bonds in the instance and amount required by law or determined by the governor upon recommendation of the commissioner of administration. The state shall pay the cost of the bond. The attorney general shall approve the form of the bond. |
Appointments
The attorney general, like all Alaska executive department heads, is appointed by the governor and subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the legislature.[6]
Alaska Statutes, Title 39, Chapter 5, Section 20
| The governor shall appoint the head of each principal executive department in the state government. Each appointment is subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the legislature in joint session. |
Term limits
There are no term limits for the office of attorney general. The officeholder serves at the pleasure of the governor.
Vacancies
Alaska law does not prescribe any particular procedure for dealing with vacancies. It is the governor's responsibility to appoint a new attorney general, subject to approval from the legislature.
Duties
The attorney general oversees the Alaska Department of Law, prosecutes violations of state criminal law, issues legal advice to state officers and agencies and enforces other Alaska statutes. The office's duties are outlined in Alaska statute. They include:[7]
- Defending the constitution of Alaska and of the United States.
- Taking action to ensure collection of revenue
- "[Representing] the state in all civil actions in which it is a party"
- "[Prosecuting] all cases involving violation of state law"
- Issuing advisory legal opinion to state officials or legislators
- "[Drafting] legal instruments for the state"
- Reporting to the legislature regarding the work of his office and necessary changes to existing law
- Publishing a pamphlet on landlord and tenant rights.
- Participating in the Regulatory Commission of Alaska as needed
Divisions
As of January 6, 2021, the Alaska Department of Law is composed of several divisions and sections:[1]
Civil Division
- Child Protection
- Collections & Support
- Commercial & Fair Business
- Environmental Law
- Human Services
- Information & Project Support
- Labor & State Affairs
- Legal Support Services
- Legislation & Regulations
- Natural Resources
- Oil, Gas & Mining
- Opinions, Appeals & Ethics
- Regulatory Affairs & Public Advocacy
- Torts & Workers' Compensation
- Transportation
Criminal Division
- Prosecution
- Special Prosecutions & Appeals
- Victim & Witness Assistance
- Advice to Public Safety Agencies
Regional District Attorney's Offices
- Anchorage - 3rd Judicial District
- Barrow - 2nd Judicial District
- Bethel - 4th Judicial District
- Dillingham - 3rd Judicial District
- Fairbanks - 4th Judicial District
- Juneau - 1st Judicial District
- Kenai - 3rd Judicial District
- Ketchikan - 1st Judicial District
- Kodiak - 3rd Judicial District
- Kotzebue - 2nd Judicial District
- Nome - 2nd Judicial District
- Palmer - 3rd Judicial District
- Sitka - 1st Judicial District
State budget
- See also: Alaska state budget and finances
The budget for the Alaska Department of Law in Fiscal Year 2024 was $112,616,900.[8]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The attorney general's salary is determined by the Alaska State Officers Compensation Commission, a four-member board created by the Alaska State Legislature in 2008. This commission meets on a regular basis to evaluate salaries for the governor, lieutenant governor and other state executive officers. State law does not require legislative approval of the salaries, but legislators can vote to prevent salary changes as a veto on the commission's work.[9]
The Alaska Constitution only provides for the compensation of the governor and lieutenant governor by law. Chapter 2, Section 15 of the state constitution prevents changes in salary from taking effect until the next term for the affected office or offices.[10]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $169,708, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2021
In 2021, the attorney general received a salary of $169,708, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2020
In 2020, the attorney general received a salary of $141,156, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2019
In 2019, the attorney general received a salary of $141,156, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2018
In 2018, the attorney general received a salary of $141,156, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2017
In 2017, the attorney general received a salary of $141,156, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2016
In 2016, the attorney general received a salary of $141,156, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2015
In 2015, the attorney general received a salary of $137,712, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2014
In 2014, the attorney general's salary increased to $136,350, according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
2013
In 2013, the attorney general was paid an estimated $135,000. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.
Historical officeholders
There have been 35 officeholders since 1916.[20]
| List of Former Officeholders from 1869-Present | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | Party | ||
| 1 | George Barnes Grigsby | 1916-1919 |  Democratic
| ||
| 2 | Jeremiah C. Murphy | 1919-1920 | NA | ||
| 3 | John Rustgard | 1920-1933 |  Republican
| ||
| 4 | James S. Truitt | 1933-1941 | NA | ||
| 5 | Henry Roden | 1941-1945 | Democratic
| ||
| 6 | Ralph J. Rivers | 1945-1949 | Democratic
| ||
| 7 | J. Gerald Williams | 1949-1959 | NA | ||
| 8 | John L. Rader | 1959-1960 | Democratic
| ||
| 9 | Ralph E. Moody | 1960-1962 | Democratic
| ||
| 10 | George N. Hayes | 1962-1964 | NA | ||
| 11 | Warren C. Colver | 1964-1966 | NA | ||
| 12 | D.A. Burr | 1966-1967 | NA | ||
| 13 | Edgar Paul Boyko | 1967-1968 | Democratic
| ||
| 14 | G. Kent Edwards | 1968-1970 | NA | ||
| 15 | John E. Havelock | 1970-1973 | Democratic
| ||
| 16 | Norman C. Gorsuch | 1973-1974 | NA | ||
| 17 | Avrum M. Gross | 1974-1980 | NA | ||
| 18 | Wilson L. Condon | 1980-1982 | NA | ||
| 19 | Norman C. Gorsuch | 1982-1985 | NA | ||
| 20 | Harold M. Brown | 1985-1986 | NA | ||
| 21 | Grace Berg Schaible | 1987-1989 | Democratic
| ||
| 22 | Douglas B. Baily | 1989-1990 | NA | ||
| 23 | Charles E. Cole | 1991-1994 | NA | ||
| 24 | Bruce M. Botelho | 1994-2002 | Democratic
| ||
| 25 | Gregg D. Renkes | 2002-2005 | Republican
| ||
| 26 | David W. Márquez | 2005-2006 | Republican
| ||
| 27 | Talis J. Colberg | 2006-2009 | Republican
| ||
| 28 | Daniel S. Sullivan | 2009-2010 | Republican
| ||
| 29 | John J. Burns | 2010-2012 | Republican
| ||
| 30 | Michael C. Geraghty | 2012-2014 | Republican
| ||
| 31 | Craig W. Richards | 2014-2016 | Republican
| ||
| 32 | Jahna Lindemuth | 2016-2018 | Independent | ||
| 33 | Kevin Clarkson | 2018-2020 | Republican
| ||
| 34 | Ed Sniffen | 2020-2021 | NA | ||
| 34 | Treg Taylor | 2021-Present | Republican
| ||
Recent news
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Contact information
Alaska Department of Law - Civil Division
1031 West 4th Avenue, Suite 200
Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: 907-269-5100
Fax: 907-276-3697
E-mail: attorney.general@alaska.gov
See also
| Alaska | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Alaska Department of Law, "About the Department of Law," accessed January 6, 2021
- ↑ Anchorage Daily News, "Sexual misconduct allegations prompt another Alaska attorney general to resign," January 31, 2021
- ↑ US News & World Report, "Alaska Lawmakers Confirm Attorney General, Department Heads," May 11, 2021
- ↑ Alaska Legal Resource Center, "Alaska Statutes 44.23.010," accessed January 6, 2021
- ↑ Alaska Legal Resource Center, "Alaska Statutes 39.05.050," accessed January 6, 2021
- ↑ Alaska Legal Resource Center, "Alaska Statutes 39.05.020," accessed January 6, 2021
- ↑ Alaska Legal Resource Center, "Alaska Statutes 44.23.010," accessed January 6, 2021
- ↑ Alaska Office of Management and Budget, "Department Totals - FY2024," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Alaska State Officers Compensation Commission, "Findings and Recommendations," January 10, 2009
- ↑ Alaska State Legislature, "Alaska's Constitution: A Citizen's Guide," accessed January 6, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 6, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 6, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 6, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 6, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 14, 2014
- ↑ State of Alaska Department of Law, "Attorneys General of Alaska," accessed January 12, 2021
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