The attorney general of Wisconsin is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Forty-five individuals have held the office of attorney general since statehood. The incumbent is Josh Kaul, a Democrat.[2][3][4]
Attorney General of Wisconsin | |
---|---|
![]() Seal of the attorney general of Wisconsin | |
since January 7, 2019 | |
Wisconsin Department of Justice | |
Style |
|
Seat | Wisconsin State Capitol Madison, Wisconsin |
Appointer | General election |
Term length | Four years, no term limits |
Constituting instrument | Wisconsin Constitution of 1848, Article VI |
Inaugural holder | James S. Brown |
Formation | June 7, 1848 |
Salary | $148,242[1] |
Website | Official page Official twitter |
Election and term of office
editThe attorney general is elected on Election Day in November, and takes office on the first Monday of the next January.[5] There is no limit to the number of terms an attorney general may hold. From 1848 to 1968, the attorney general was elected to a two-year term in the November general election. Since 1970, following ratification of a constitutional amendment in April 1967, the attorney general has been elected to a four-year term.
In the event of a vacancy in the office of the attorney general, the governor of Wisconsin may appoint a replacement to fill the remainder of the term. The attorney general may be removed from office through an impeachment trial.[6] They may also choose to resign from office.
Powers and duties
editThe attorney general is the chief law officer of the state of Wisconsin, and amongst other duties has charge and conduct for the state of all suits instituted for and against the government thereof, certifies all bonds issued by the state, protects the School Trust Funds managed by the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, and provides written opinions on questions of law to either house of the Wisconsin Legislature or the head of any state agency.[7][8] By virtue of office, the attorney general directs and supervises the Wisconsin Department of Justice.[9] In accordance with Article X, Section 7 of the Wisconsin State Constitution, the attorney general is a member of the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Lands; the same is also a member of, or designates members to, the Claims Board, Crime Victims Rights Board, Group Insurance Board, Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions, Judicial Council, Law Enforcement Standards Board, Public Records Board, and the Board of Directors of the Insurance Security Fund.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]
List of attorneys general of Wisconsin
editThis is a list of attorneys general for Wisconsin, from before statehood to present.
Party | Attorneys |
---|---|
Republican | 28 |
Democratic | 16 |
Progressive | 1 |
Wisconsin Territory
editBefore statehood, the Wisconsin Territory also had several attorneys general appointed by the governor of the territory.[18]
Image | Name | Took office | Left office | Territorial governor |
---|---|---|---|---|
Henry S. Baird | 1836 | 1839 | Henry Dodge | |
Horatio N. Wells | 1839 | 1841 | Henry Dodge | |
Mortimer M. Jackson | 1842 | 1844 | James Doty | |
William Pitt Lynde | 1844 | 1845 | Nathaniel P. Tallmadge | |
Mortimer M. Jackson | 1845 | 1846 | Henry Dodge | |
A. Hyatt Smith | 1846 | 1848 |
State of Wisconsin
editDemocratic Republican Progressive
# | Image | Name | Party | Took office | Left office |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | James S. Brown (1824–1878) |
Democratic | June 7, 1848[19] | January 7, 1850 | |
2 | S. Park Coon (1820–1883) |
Democratic | January 7, 1850[19] | January 5, 1852 | |
3 | Experience Estabrook (1813–1894) |
Democratic | January 5, 1852[19] | January 2, 1854 | |
4 | George Baldwin Smith (1823–1879) |
Democratic | January 2, 1854[19] | January 7, 1856 | |
5 | William Rudolph Smith (1787–1868) |
Democratic | January 7, 1856[19] | January 4, 1858 | |
6 | Gabriel Bouck (1828–1904) |
Democratic | January 4, 1858[19] | January 2, 1860 | |
7 | James Henry Howe[note 1] (1827–1893) |
Republican | January 2, 1860[19] | October 7, 1862[19][20] | |
8 | Winfield Smith[note 2] (1827–1899) |
Republican | October 7, 1862[19] | January 1, 1866 | |
9 | Charles R. Gill (1830–1883) |
Republican | January 1, 1866[19] | January 3, 1870 | |
10 | Stephen Steele Barlow (1818–1900) |
Republican | January 3, 1870[19] | January 5, 1874 | |
11 | A. Scott Sloan (1820–1895) |
Liberal Republican | January 5, 1874[19] | January 7, 1878 | |
12 | Alexander Wilson (1833–1888) |
Republican | January 7, 1878[19] | January 2, 1882 | |
13 | Leander F. Frisby[note 3] (1825–1889) |
Republican | January 2, 1882[19] | January 3, 1887 | |
14 | Charles E. Estabrook (1847–1918) |
Republican | January 3, 1887[19] | January 5, 1891 | |
15 | James L. O'Connor (1858–1931) |
Democratic | January 5, 1891[19] | January 7, 1895 | |
16 | William H. Mylrea (1853–1916) |
Republican | January 7, 1895[19] | January 2, 1899 | |
17 | Emmett R. Hicks (1854–1925) |
Republican | January 2, 1899[19] | January 5, 1903 | |
18 | Lafayette M. Sturdevant (1856–1923) |
Republican | January 5, 1903[19] | January 7, 1907 | |
19 | Frank L. Gilbert (1864–1930) |
Republican | January 7, 1907[19] | January 2, 1911 | |
20 | Levi H. Bancroft (1861–1948) |
Republican | January 2, 1911[19] | January 6, 1913 | |
21 | Walter C. Owen[note 1] (1868–1934) |
Republican | January 6, 1913[19] | January 7, 1918[19] | |
22 | Spencer Haven[note 2] (1868–1938) |
Republican | January 7, 1918[19] | January 6, 1919 | |
23 | John J. Blaine (1875–1934) |
Republican | January 6, 1919[19] | January 3, 1921 | |
24 | William J. Morgan (1883–1983) |
Republican | January 3, 1921[19] | January 1, 1923 | |
25 | Herman L. Ekern (1872–1954) |
Republican | January 1, 1923[19] | January 3, 1927 | |
26 | John W. Reynolds Sr. (1876–1958) |
Republican | January 3, 1927[19] | January 2, 1933 | |
27 | James E. Finnegan (1892–1966) |
Democratic | January 2, 1933[21] | January 4, 1937 | |
28 | Orland Steen Loomis (1893–1942) |
Progressive | January 4, 1937[22] | January 2, 1939 | |
29 | John E. Martin[note 1] (1891–1968) |
Republican | January 2, 1939[23] | June 1, 1948[20] | |
vacant | June 1, 1948 | June 5, 1948 | |||
30 | Grover L. Broadfoot[note 2][note 1] (1892-1962) |
Republican | June 5, 1948[20] | November 12, 1948[20] | |
31 | Thomas E. Fairchild[note 2] (1912–2007) |
Democratic | November 12, 1948[20] | January 1, 1951 | |
32 | Vernon W. Thomson (1905–1988) |
Republican | January 1, 1951[24] | January 7, 1957 | |
33 | Stewart G. Honeck (1906–1999) |
Republican | January 7, 1957[25] | January 5, 1959 | |
34 | John W. Reynolds Jr. (1921–2002) |
Democratic | January 5, 1959[26] | January 7, 1963 | |
35 | George Thompson (1918–1992) |
Republican | January 7, 1963[27] | January 4, 1965 | |
36 | Bronson La Follette (1936–2018) |
Democratic | January 4, 1965[28] | January 6, 1969 | |
37 | Robert W. Warren[note 1] (1925–1998) |
Republican | January 6, 1969[29] | October 8, 1974[20] | |
38 | Victor A. Miller[note 2][note 1] (1916–1984) |
Democratic | October 8, 1974[20] | November 25, 1974[20] | |
39 | Bronson La Follette[note 2] (1936–2018) |
Democratic | November 25, 1974[20] | January 5, 1987 | |
40 | Don Hanaway (1933–1995) |
Republican | January 5, 1987 [citation needed] |
January 7, 1991 | |
41 | Jim Doyle (born 1945) |
Democratic | January 7, 1991[30] | January 6, 2003 | |
42 | Peggy Lautenschlager (1955–2018) |
Democratic | January 6, 2003[31] | January 3, 2007 | |
43 | J.B. Van Hollen (born 1966) |
Republican | January 3, 2007[32] | January 5, 2015 | |
44 | Brad Schimel (born 1965) |
Republican | January 5, 2015 | January 7, 2019 | |
45 | Josh Kaul (born 1980) |
Democratic | January 7, 2019 | Incumbent | |
Notes: |
See also
editReferences
editGeneral
edit- Wisconsin Blue Book, 2005–2006
- "Wisconsin as a Territory" from History of Crawford and Richland Counties, Wisconsin. Springfield, Illinois: Union Publishing Company, 1884. pp. 34–41.
Specific
edit- ^ Salaries of Wisconsin State Elected Officials (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. 2019. p. 2. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ "Executive Profiles | Wisconsin Department of Justice".
- ^ "Kaul for Attorney General". Kaul for Attorney General. April 4, 2023.
- ^ "Constitutional Offices".
- ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (2007). "Chapter 3: Wisconsin Constitution (Article XIII)". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2007–2008 (PDF). Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 234. ISBN 978-0-9752820-2-1. Retrieved 2008-05-10.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (2007). "Chapter 3: Wisconsin Constitution (Article VII)". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2007–2008 (PDF). Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 218. ISBN 978-0-9752820-2-1. Retrieved 2008-05-10.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Wisconsin Legislature: Chapter 165".
- ^ "Wisconsin Legislature: VI,3". docs.legis.wisconsin.gov.
- ^ "Wisconsin Department of Justice | WisDOJ".
- ^ "Wisconsin Legislature: 15.255(1)(a)6". docs.legis.wisconsin.gov.
- ^ "Claims Board Home". claimsboard.wi.gov.
- ^ "Wisconsin Insurance Security Fund - Welcome". www.wilifega.org.
- ^ "Wisconsin Legislature: ARTICLE X".
- ^ "2019 Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions".
- ^ "Group Insurance Board".
- ^ "Wisconsin Judicial Council".
- ^ "Public Records Board Home".
- ^ "Wisconsin Territory". Archived from the original on October 12, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Anderson, William J. (1929). William A. Anderson (ed.). The Wisconsin blue book, 1929. Madison, Wisconsin: Democrat Printing Company. p. 152. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (2007). "Chapter 8: Statistical Information on Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2007–2008 (PDF). Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 722–724. ISBN 978-0-9752820-2-1. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2008-05-08.
- ^ "Governor Takes Oath Amid Cheers of 5,000" (PDF). Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. January 3, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
- ^ "New Administrations Started" (PDF). Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. Oshkosh, Wisconsin. January 4, 1937. p. 6. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
- ^ "Gov. Julius P. Heil Takes Office" (PDF). The Sheboygan Press. Sheboygan, Wisconsin. January 2, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
- ^ "Highlights of Inauguration Ceremony as Five State Republican Officials Take Oaths in Capitol" (PDF). Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. January 2, 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
- ^ "Thomson Takes Oath, Pledges Common Sense" (PDF). Stevens Point Daily Journal. Stevens Point, Wisconsin. January 7, 1957. p. 1. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
- ^ "Gaylord Nelson Becomes State's 34th Governor" (PDF). Stevens Point Daily Journal. Stevens Point, Wisconsin. January 5, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
- ^ "Reynolds Calls for Unity At Inaugural Ceremonies" (PDF). Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. Oshkosh, Wisconsin. January 7, 1963. p. 1. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
- ^ "Knowles Seeks State's Aid in Move Forward" (PDF). Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. January 5, 1965. p. 1. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
- ^ "Knowles Stresses Need for Priorities" (PDF). Manitowoc Herald Times. Manitowoc, Wisconsin. January 6, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
- ^ "Thompson takes oath, praises school choice" (PDF). Ironwood Daily Globe. Ironwood, Michigan. January 8, 1991. p. 7. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
- ^ "The guard changes". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. January 7, 2003. p. 1A. ProQuest 261710319.
- ^ "At inauguration, Doyle keeps focus on health care, schools; Legislative leaders make bipartisan pledges after Capitol ceremonies". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. January 4, 2007. p. 1B. ProQuest 263656000.
External links
edit- Wisconsin Department of Justice official website
- Press releases at Wisconsin Attorney General
- Claims Board
- Wisconsin Insurance Security Fund
- Wisconsin Attorney General articles at ABA Journal
- News and Commentary at FindLaw
- Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations at Law.Justia.com
- U.S. Supreme Court Opinions - "Cases with title containing: State of Wisconsin" at FindLaw
- State Bar of Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel profile at National Association of Attorneys General