Attorney General of Alabama
Alabama Attorney General | |
General information | |
Office Type: | Partisan |
Office website: | Official Link |
Compensation: | $165,381 |
2024 FY Budget: | $29,992,029 |
Term limits: | Two consecutive terms |
Structure | |
Length of term: | 4 years |
Authority: | Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 112 |
Selection Method: | Elected |
Current Officeholder | |
Attorney General of Alabama
Steve Marshall | |
Elections | |
Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
Other Alabama Executive Offices | |
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission |
The Attorney General of Alabama is an elected constitutional officer in the Alabama state government. The attorney general serves as the state's chief law officer and chief law enforcement officer. He may also initiate both civil and criminal court action to protect the state's interests or to enforce state law.[1]
Alabama has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Steve Marshall (R). Marshall was appointed by Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) on February 10, 2017. He was elected on November 6, 2018, to serve a full four-year term, beginning in 2019.[2][3]
Authority
The attorney general's authority derives from Article V, Section 112 of the Alabama Constitution.
Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 112
The executive department shall consist of a governor, lieutenant governor, attorney-general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education, commissioner of agriculture and industries, and a sheriff for each county. |
Qualifications
Qualifications for the office of attorney general are described in Article V, Section 132 of the state constitution. Candidates for the office must have been a citizen of the United States for seven years, a resident of Alabama for five years, and at least 25 years of age.
Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 132
No person shall be eligible to the office of attorney-general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education, or commissioner of agriculture and industries unless he shall have been a citizen of the United States at least seven years, and shall have resided in this state at least five years next preceding his election, and shall be at least twenty-five years old when elected. |
Elections
![](https://ballotpedia.s3.amazonaws.com/images/thumb/f/fe/Alabama_exec_org_chart.png/200px-Alabama_exec_org_chart.png)
Per Section 114 of the state constitution, Alabama elects its attorneys general during federal midterm election years (e.g. 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030). Section 116 sets the attorney general's inauguration for the first Monday after the second Tuesday in the January following an election.
Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 114
The governor, lieutenant governor, attorney-general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education, and commissioner of agriculture and industries shall be elected by the qualified electors of the state at the same time and places appointed for the election of members of the legislature in the year nineteen hundred and two, and in every fourth year thereafter. |
Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 116
The governor, lieutenant governor, attorney-general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education, commissioner of agriculture and industries, elected after the ratification of this Constitution, shall hold their respective offices for the term of four years from the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January next succeeding their election, and until their successors shall be elected and qualified. |
Term limits
Term limits for the attorney general are laid out in Amendment 282 to the Alabama Constitution, which forbids the attorney general from serving more than two consecutive terms.
Alabama Constitution, Amendment 282:
The governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education, and commissioner of agriculture and industries, shall hold their respective offices for the term of four years from the first Monday after the second Tuesday in January next succeeding their election and until their successors shall be elected and qualified. Each of said officers shall be eligible to succeed himself in office, but no person shall be eligible to succeed himself for more than one additional term. |
2022
- See also: Alabama Attorney General election, 2022
General election
General election for Attorney General of Alabama
Incumbent Steve Marshall defeated Wendell Major in the general election for Attorney General of Alabama on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Steve Marshall (R) | 67.9 | 955,425 |
![]() | Wendell Major (D) | 32.0 | 450,543 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 1,220 |
Total votes: 1,407,188 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Wendell Major advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Alabama.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Attorney General of Alabama
Incumbent Steve Marshall defeated Harry Still III in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Alabama on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Steve Marshall | 89.9 | 519,092 |
Harry Still III | 10.1 | 58,499 |
Total votes: 577,591 | ||||
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2018
- See also: Alabama Attorney General election, 2018
General election
General election for Attorney General of Alabama
Incumbent Steve Marshall defeated Joseph Siegelman in the general election for Attorney General of Alabama on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Steve Marshall (R) | 58.8 | 1,004,438 |
Joseph Siegelman (D) | 41.1 | 702,858 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 1,141 |
Total votes: 1,708,437 (100.00% precincts reporting) | ||||
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Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for Attorney General of Alabama
Incumbent Steve Marshall defeated Troy King in the Republican primary runoff for Attorney General of Alabama on July 17, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Steve Marshall | 62.0 | 211,562 |
![]() | Troy King | 38.0 | 129,409 |
Total votes: 340,971 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Attorney General of Alabama
Joseph Siegelman defeated Chris Christie in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Alabama on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | Joseph Siegelman | 54.2 | 147,923 | |
![]() | Chris Christie | 45.8 | 125,184 |
Total votes: 273,107 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Attorney General of Alabama
Incumbent Steve Marshall and Troy King advanced to a runoff. They defeated Alice Martin and Chess Bedsole in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Alabama on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Steve Marshall | 28.3 | 154,500 |
✔ | ![]() | Troy King | 27.9 | 151,878 |
![]() | Alice Martin | 23.2 | 126,735 | |
![]() | Chess Bedsole | 20.6 | 112,062 |
Total votes: 545,175 | ||||
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Full history
To view the electoral history dating back to 2002 for the office of Attorney General of Alabama, click [show] to expand the section. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2014
2010 On November 2, 2010, Luther Strange (R) won election to the office of Attorney General of Alabama. He defeated James H. Anderson (D) in the general election.
2006 On November 7, 2006, Troy King won election to the office of Attorney General of Alabama. He defeated John M. Tyson in the general election.
2002 On November 5, 2002, William H. Pryor Jr. won re-election to the office of Attorney General of Alabama. He defeated Boyd Whigham (D) and Wilson Myers (Lib) in the general election.
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Vacancies
Article V, Section 136 of the Alabama Constitution requires the governor to appoint a replacement if the office of attorney general becomes vacant or if the incumbent "shall become of unsound mind." The replacement serves until the next scheduled election.[4]
Constitution of Alabama, Article V, Section 136'
Should the office of attorney-general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education, or commissioner of agriculture and industries become vacant from any cause, the governor shall fill such vacancy until the disability is removed or a successor elected and qualified. In case any of said officers shall become of unsound mind, such unsoundness shall be ascertained by the supreme court upon the suggestion of the governor. |
Duties
Section 137 of the Alabama Constitution provides that the "attorney general may be required to defend suits against state, political subdivisions, officers, etc." The attorney general's other duties are prescribed by law. Besides representing the state in court, the incumbent is required to give legal advice to state and county officers or agencies and represent the state before the Alabama Supreme Court or state courts of criminal or civil appeals. He may also represent municipalities before appeals courts in cases where the constitutionality of a municipal ordinance is questioned.
The attorney general's office issues an annual report including "suggestions for the suppression of crime and the improvement of criminal administration." He is also required to report on laws held invalid by state courts and give his opinion on the constitutional validity and clarity of bills being considered by the legislature.
Alabama state law requires the attorney general to fulfill several other minor duties, including keeping an official record of all of his correspondence and approving extradition forms.[5]
Divisions
As of January 6, 2021, the attorney general's office includes the following divisions:[6]
- Administrative Services
- Capital Litigation
- Constitutional Defense
- Consumer Interest
- Criminal Appeals
- Criminal Trials
- Executive
- General Civil Litigation
- Information Technology
- Investigations
- Medicaid Fraud
- Opinions Section
- Solicitor General
- Special Prosecutions
State budget
- See also: Alabama state budget and finances
The budget for the Attorney General's Office in Fiscal Year 2024 was $29,992,029.[7]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The salary of the attorney general is established by the Alabama State Legislature, as required by constitutional provision.[8] The Attorney General of Alabama receives the same compensation as an Associate Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.[9] Article V, Section 118 of the state constitution requires that changes in compensation take effect in the term after they were passed.
Alabama Constitution, Article V, Section 118
The governor, lieutenant governor, attorney-general, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, superintendent of education, and commissioner of agriculture and industries, shall receive compensation to be fixed by law, which shall not be increased or diminished during the term for which they shall have been elected, and shall, except the lieutenant governor, reside at the state capital during the time they continue in office, except during epidemics. |
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $165,381, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2021
In 2021, the attorney general received a salary of $171,726, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2020
In 2020, the attorney general received a salary of $169,001, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2019
In 2019, the attorney general received a salary of $168,002, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2018
In 2018, the attorney general received a salary of $168,002, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2017
In 2017, the attorney general received a salary of $168,002, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2016
In 2016, the attorney general received a salary of $168,002, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2015
In 2015, the attorney general received a salary of $168,002, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2014
In 2014, the attorney general's salary increased to $166,002, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2013
In 2013, the attorney general was paid an estimated $160,003. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.
Historical officeholders
There have been 49 attorneys general since 1819.[19]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Alabama Attorney General. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact info
Capitol Address:
Office of the Attorney General
500 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36130
Phone: (334) 242-7300
See also
Alabama | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Office of the Alabama Attorney General, "Roles of the attorney general," accessed January 6, 2021
- ↑ AL.com, "Steve Marshall named Alabama attorney general by Gov. Robert Bentley," February 10, 2017
- ↑ Alabama Secretary of State, "Certified General Election Results," accessed January 6, 2021
- ↑ Constitution of Alabama, "Article V, Section 136," accessed May 20, 2011
- ↑ Code of Alabama, "Section 36-15-1, Duties generally," accessed January 6, 2021
- ↑ State of Alabama Office of the Attorney General, "Divisions," accessed January 6, 2021
- ↑ Alabama Department of Finance, "FY2024 Appropriations," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ FindLaw, "ALA CODE § 36-6-8 : Alabama Code - Section 36-6-8: SALARIES OF CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, PERSONS NOT COVERED BY MERIT SYSTEM AND PERSONS WHOSE SALARY NOT SET BY GOVERNOR," accessed February 17, 2015
- ↑ Code of Alabama, "Section 36-15-3, Salary," accessed May 20, 2011
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Alabama Department of Archives and History, "Alabama Attorneys General," accessed January 12, 2021
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