The Massachusetts Attorney General is an elected
constitutionally defined executive officer of the
Massachusetts Government. The officeholder is the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...
. The officeholder also acts as an advocate and resource for the Commonwealth and its residents in many areas, including
consumer protection, combating fraud and corruption, protecting civil rights, and maintaining economic competition. The current Attorney General is
Maura Healey
Maura Tracy Healey (born February 8, 1971) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the Massachusetts Attorney General since January 2015. She is the governor-elect of Massachusetts, having won the 2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial electi ...
.
History
When the 1780
state constitution was first enacted, the attorney general was appointed by the
governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
, with the advice and consent of
the Governor's Council. The office was abolished in 1843 and re-established in 1849. In 1855 the constitution was amended so that the attorney general (along with a number of other constitutionally enumerated offices) was elected by the people. The length of the term of office has matched that of the governor, and elections are held concurrently with those for other constitutional office. Elections were first held annually, became biennial (every two years) in 1920, and quadrennial (every four years) in 1966.
Organization
The Office of the Attorney General is organized into six Bureaus: Executive; Energy and Environmental; Criminal; Government; Health Care and Fair Competition; and Public Protection and Advocacy. Each bureau is divided into divisions and teams. These Bureaus and Divisions have distinct missions, but work closely together to ensure the Attorney General's Office provides the highest level of public protection.
List of attorneys general of the
Province of Massachusetts Bay
The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a colony in British America which became one of the thirteen original states of the United States. It was chartered on October 7, 1691, by William III and Mary II, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of ...
Office established at the start of
Queen Anne's War
Queen Anne's War (1702–1713) was the second in a series of French and Indian Wars fought in North America involving the colonial empires of Great Britain, France, and Spain; it took place during the reign of Anne, Queen of Great Britain. In E ...
in 1702.
List of attorneys general of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...
Office reestablished upon the ratification of the
Constitution of Massachusetts in 1780.
Living former Massachusetts attorneys general
As of , there are five living former Massachusetts attorneys general, the oldest being
Francis X. Bellotti (served 1975–1987, born 1923). The most recent attorney general to die was
Edward Brooke
Edward William Brooke III (October 26, 1919 – January 3, 2015) was an American politician of the Republican Party, who represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate from 1967 until 1979. Prior to serving in the Senate, he served as th ...
on January 3, 2015 (served 1963–1967, born 1919).
References
External links
Massachusetts Attorney Generalofficial website
* . (Various documents).
Massachusetts Attorney Generalarticles at ''ABA Journal''
at
FindLaw
*
ttp://law.justia.com/codes/massachusetts/ Massachusetts General Lawsat Law.Justia.com
U.S. Supreme Court Opinions - "Cases with title containing: State of Massachusetts"at
FindLaw
Massachusetts Bar AssociationMassachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey profileat
National Association of Attorneys General
Press releasesat Massachusetts Attorney General
{{U.S. State Attorneys General
Attorneys General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general or attorney-general (sometimes abbreviated AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. The plural is attorneys general.
In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have exe ...
1702 establishments in Massachusetts