The attorney general of New York, also known as the New York attorney general (NYAG), is the chief legal officer of the U.S. state of New York and head of the Department of Law of the state government.Executive Law § 60. "There shall continue to be in the state government a department of law. The head of the department of law shall be the attorney-general." The office has existed in various forms since 1626, originally established under the Dutch colonial government of New Netherland.

Democrat Letitia James currently serves as attorney general, in office since January 1, 2019.

Functions The attorney general advises the executive branch of state government as well as defends actions and brings proceedings on its behalf. The attorney general acts independently of the governor of New York. The department's regulations are compiled in title 13 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations (NYCRR).

Organization The legal functions of the Department of Law are divided primarily into five major divisions: Appeals and Opinions, State Counsel, Criminal Justice, Economic Justice and Social Justice.

Chief deputy attorney general Harlan LevySchneiderman Fills Six Top Posts, NY Law Journal.com, 23 December 2010, Stashenko, J., Retrieved 1 November 2013. (2011–2015)

Solicitors General Ruth Kessler Toch (1966–1979) Shirley Adelson Siegel (1979–1982) Robert Hermann (1983–1986) O. Peter Sherwood (1986–1991)New York State Unified Court System: Judges of the Trial Courts: Hon. O. Peter Sherwood, NYCourts.gov, Retrieved 1 November 2013. Jerry Boone (1991–1994)Jerry Boone Named Harrah's Entertainment Senior Vice President of Human Resources , TheFreeLibrary.com, Retrieved 1 November 2013. Victoria A. Graffeo (1995–1996) Barbara Gott Billet (1996–1998)New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Barbara G. Billet , FreedomSpeaks.com, Retrieved 1 November 2013. Preeta D. Bansal (1999–2001) Caitlin Halligan (2001–2007) Barbara D. Underwood (2007–present)

Terms of office From 1684 to 1777, when New York was under the British colonial government, the attorney general was appointed by the British crown, or the colonial governor on its behalf. In 1693, the attorney general earned a salary of 50 pounds. From 1777 to 1822, the attorney general was appointed by the Council of Appointment. From 1823 to 1846, the attorney general was elected by the New York State Legislature for a three-year term. Attorneys general have been elected by the voters since 1847.

List of attorneys general of New York Province of New York (1684–1776) ImageAttorney generalTenureNotesTook officeLeft office Thomas Rudyard 1684 December 1685 Appointed by Gov. Thomas Dongan James Graham 10 December 1685 1688 Afterwards attorney general of Dominion of New England, 1688. Member of Dominion of New England, May 1668 – April 1689 Jacob Milborne 1690 1691 Hanged for treason, 1691 Thomas Newton 1691 April 1691 Removed from office by governor George Farewell 1691 1692 (Acting) Removed from office by governor James Graham June 1692 21 January 1701 Died 27 January 1701 Sampson Shelton Broughton 5 April 1701 Died February 1705 John Rayner 12 July 1708 Absent in England. Died 1719. May Bickley 1708 1712 Acting AG in Rayner's absence. Removed from office by governor, 1712 David Jamison 10 June 1712 1721 Acting AG in Rayner's absence, 1712–20 James Alexander 1721 1723 Richard Bradley 1723 28 August 1752 William Smith the elder August 1752 William Kempe November 1752 19 July 1759 John Tabor Kempe 1759 James Duane 1767 Acting AG in Kempe's absence.

New York State (1777–present) Image Attorney general Tenure Party NotesEgbert BensonMay 8, 1777 – May 14, 1788Richard VarickMay 14, 1788 – September 29, 1789FederalistAaron BurrSeptember 29, 1789 – November 8, 1791Dem.-Rep.Third vice president of the United StatesMorgan LewisNovember 8, 1791 – December 24, 1792Dem.-Rep.Nathaniel LawrenceDecember 24, 1792 – November 13, 1795Dem.-Rep.Josiah Ogden HoffmanNovember 13, 1795 – February 3, 1802FederalistAmbrose SpencerFebruary 3, 1802 – February 3, 1804Dem.-Rep.John WoodworthFebruary 3, 1804 – March 18, 1808Dem.-Rep.Matthias B. HildrethMarch 18, 1808 – February 2, 1810Dem.-Rep.Abraham Van VechtenFebruary 2, 1810 – February 1, 1811FederalistMatthias B. HildrethFebruary 1, 1811 – July 11, 1812Dem.-Rep. Died in officeThomas Addis EmmetAugust 12, 1812 – February 13, 1813Dem.-Rep.Abraham Van VechtenFebruary 13, 1813 – February 17, 1815FederalistMartin Van BurenFebruary 17, 1815 – July 8, 1819Dem.-Rep.Eighth president of the United StatesThomas Jackson OakleyJuly 8, 1819 – February 12, 1821FederalistSamuel A. TalcottFebruary 12, 1821 – January 27, 1829Dem.-Rep.First appointed, in 1823 elected by State Legislature, resigned shortly before the end of his second termGreene C. BronsonJanuary 27, 1829 – January 12, 1836DemocraticElected a justice of the State Supreme Court during his third termSamuel BeardsleyJanuary 12, 1836 – February 4, 1839DemocraticWillis HallFebruary 4, 1839 – February 7, 1842WhigGeorge P. BarkerFebruary 7, 1842 – February 3, 1845DemocraticJohn Van BurenFebruary 3, 1845 – January 1, 1848DemocraticLegislated out of office by the Constitution of 1846Ambrose L. JordanJanuary 1, 1848 – December 31, 1849WhigFirst attorney general elected by general ballotLevi S. ChatfieldJanuary 1, 1850 – November 23, 1853DemocraticResigned shortly before the end of his second termGardner StowDecember 8, 1853 – December 31, 1853DemocraticAppointed to fill the unexpired termOgden HoffmanJanuary 1, 1854 – December 31, 1855WhigStephen B. CushingJanuary 1, 1856 – December 31, 1857AmericanLyman TremainJanuary 1, 1858 – December 31, 1859DemocraticCharles G. MyersJanuary 1, 1860 – December 31, 1861RepublicanDaniel S. DickinsonJanuary 1, 1862 – December 31, 1863UnionJohn CochraneJanuary 1, 1864 – December 31, 1865UnionJohn H. MartindaleJanuary 1, 1866 – December 31, 1867RepublicanMarshall B. ChamplainJanuary 1, 1868 – December 31, 1871DemocraticTwo termsFrancis C. BarlowJanuary 1, 1872 – December 31, 1873RepublicanDaniel PrattJanuary 1, 1874 – December 31, 1875DemocraticCharles S. FairchildJanuary 1, 1876 – December 31, 1877DemocraticAugustus Schoonmaker Jr.January 1, 1878 – December 31, 1879DemocraticHamilton Ward Sr.January 1, 1880 – December 31, 1881RepublicanLeslie W. RussellJanuary 1, 1882 – December 31, 1883RepublicanDenis O'BrienJanuary 1, 1884 – December 31, 1887DemocraticTwo termsCharles F. TaborJanuary 1, 1888 – December 31, 1891DemocraticTwo termsSimon W. RosendaleJanuary 1, 1892 – December 31, 1893DemocraticTheodore E. HancockJanuary 1, 1894 – December 31, 1898RepublicanTwo terms (1894–1895; 1896–1898)John C. DaviesJanuary 1, 1899 – December 31, 1902RepublicanTwo termsJohn CunneenJanuary 1, 1903 – December 31, 1904DemocraticJulius M. MayerJanuary 1, 1905 – December 31, 1906RepublicanWilliam S. JacksonJanuary 1, 1907 – December 31, 1908DemocraticEdward R. O'MalleyJanuary 1, 1909 – December 31, 1910RepublicanThomas CarmodyJanuary 1, 1911 – September 2, 1914DemocraticResigned shortly before the end of his second termJames A. ParsonsSeptember 2, 1914 – December 31, 1914DemocraticAppointed to fill the unexpired termEgburt E. WoodburyJanuary 1, 1915 – April 19, 1917RepublicanResigned during his second termMerton E. LewisApril 19, 1917 – December 31, 1918RepublicanAs first deputy AG acted until being elected by the State Legislature on April 25 to fill unexpired first half of term, then re-elected in special election (Nov. 1917) for the other half (1918)Charles D. NewtonJanuary 1, 1919 – December 31, 1922RepublicanTwo termsCarl ShermanJanuary 1, 1923 – December 31, 1924DemocraticDefeated for reelection in 1924Albert OttingerJanuary 1, 1925 – December 31, 1928RepublicanTwo terms; unsuccessful Republican nominee for governor in 1928Hamilton Ward Jr.January 1, 1929 – December 31, 1930RepublicanSon of Hamilton Ward Sr. (AG from 1880 to 1881)John J. Bennett Jr.January 1, 1931 – December 31, 1942DemocraticFive termsNathaniel L. GoldsteinJanuary 1, 1943 – December 31, 1954RepublicanThree termsJacob K. JavitsJanuary 1, 1955 – January 9, 1957RepublicanResigned having been elected U.S. senatorLouis J. LefkowitzJanuary 9, 1957 – December 31, 1978RepublicanRe-elected by the State Legislature to fill the unexpired term, then re-elected to five more terms, longest-serving attorney general (8 days short of 22 years)Robert AbramsJanuary 1, 1979 – December 31, 1993DemocraticElected to four terms, resigning a year before the end of his fourth termG. Oliver KoppellJanuary 1, 1994 – December 31, 1994DemocraticElected by the State Legislature to fill unexpired termDennis VaccoJanuary 1, 1995 – December 31, 1998RepublicanDefeated for reelection in 1998. Joined Waste Management, Inc. as vice president for New York government affairs. Became a partner in Buffalo law firm, Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman.Eliot SpitzerJanuary 1, 1999 – December 31, 2006DemocraticTwo terms, then elected governorAndrew CuomoJanuary 1, 2007 – December 31, 2010DemocraticOne term, then elected governorEric SchneidermanJanuary 1, 2011 – May 8, 2018DemocraticResigned during his second termBarbara D. UnderwoodMay 8, 2018 – December 31, 2018DemocraticServed as acting attorney general from May 8 to May 22, when she was confirmed by the New York State Legislature.Letitia "Tish" JamesJanuary 1, 2019 – presentDemocratic

See also New York Attorney General elections Law of New York

References

External links

Department of Law in the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations New York Attorney General articles at ABA Journal News and Commentary at FindLaw New York Consolidated Laws at Law.Justia.com U.S. Supreme Court Opinions - "Cases with title containing: State of New York" at FindLaw New York State Bar Association Press releases at New York Attorney General