19 State Attorney General Opinions 19 State Attorney General Opinions
19.1 Introduction 19.1 Introduction
19.1.1 General Introduction 19.1.1 General Introduction
State attorneys general have authority to issue opinions to certain govenment actors, such as the governor, the legislature, and state agencies, among others. These opinions are supposed to provide legal advice concerning the current law, as opposed to advocacy in court on behalf of the state.
19.1.2 Detailed Roadmap to Core Readings 19.1.2 Detailed Roadmap to Core Readings
The first reading is the summary of the law of AG opinions from NAAG, which provides an overview on the authority and different approaches. Jim Tierney's lecture on AG opinions gives a perspective on what the role should be. The Kansas case shows the real-world significance of AG opinions.
The compendium of articles illustrates the wide range or topics and concerns relating to AG opinions. A series of actual AG opinions illuminates the varying approaches that different AGs take towards this function. You should ask whether these are appropriate exercises of the AG opinion authority.
The hypothethicals are aimed not at the substance of the issue, but the broader question -- should the AG issue an opinion in these circumstances?