Attorney General of Maryland: Difference between revisions

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Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox Political post The Attorney General of the State of Maryland is the chief legal officer of the U.S. state of Maryland, serving as the state's primary prosecutor and legal representative.[1]

The current attorney general is Anthony Brown, who was elected in 2022 and has served since 2023.[2][3]

Selection and qualifications[edit | edit source]

Like most state attorneys general, the attorney general is elected by statewide vote every four years. The officeholder serves a four-year term and is eligible for re-election with no term limits.[1] As with all statewide offices in Maryland, the attorney general is elected on even-numbered years when there is no election for the president of the United States.

To run for the office, a person must be a citizen of and qualified voter in Maryland and must have lived and practiced law in the state for at least ten years. If the office becomes vacant, the Governor appoints a replacement to serve the remainder of the term.[1]

Functions and responsibilities[edit | edit source]

The attorney general has general charge, supervision and direction of the legal business of the State. The main constitutional duties of the attorney general are to enforce the rule of law and to provide legal counsel and representation to the state of Maryland.

The attorney general is the legal advisor and representative of the governor, the General Assembly, the judiciary, and all state departments, various boards, commissions, officials, and institutions of state government.[4] Notably, the governor cannot employ additional legal counsel without legislative authorization.[1]

The office consists of fourteen Central Divisions and fifty-six state agency client units. The office provides written legal opinions interpreting state law to the General Assembly, the governor, and other state and local elected officials. Administrative rules and regulations promulgated by state agencies, and bills passed by the General Assembly, are reviewed by the office and defended in court when necessary.[5]

Litigation[edit | edit source]

The attorney general and assistant attorneys general represent the state of Maryland in all legal cases. This includes representing the state before the Maryland Circuit Courts, the Appellate Court of Maryland, the Supreme Court of Maryland, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, and in the United States Supreme Court.[1]

The attorney general represents state agencies, officials, and employees in civil lawsuits and defends the constitutionality of state laws when challenged.

Law enforcement[edit | edit source]

The attorney general is charged with the enforcement of various laws and to investigate and prosecute a broad range of criminal acts occurring against and within state government.

Criminal Division[edit | edit source]

The Criminal Division investigates and prosecutes crimes by state employees, fraud against the state, public corruption, gun trafficking, and organized or multi-jurisdictional crimes.[6]

Independent Investigations Division[edit | edit source]

Established by the General Assembly in 2021, the Independent Investigations Division investigates police-involved deaths or critical injuries that occur in Maryland. Since October 1, 2023, the Division has the authority to prosecute involved law enforcement officers.[7][8]

Support to local prosecutors[edit | edit source]

The attorney general is charged with providing assistance to local state's attorneys when they require additional resources or specialized expertise, or when directed by the governor or General Assembly.[1]

Consumer and public protection[edit | edit source]

Consumer Protection Division[edit | edit source]

The Consumer Protection Division offers mediation between complainants and businesses, investigates and prosecutes illegal business practices, and registers home builders and health clubs. The division also provides educational materials for Maryland residents.[9]

The attorney general may bring an action to restrain a foreign limited liability company from doing business in this state.[10] The attorney general may obtain a court order prohibiting the guarantor or service contract provider from further violations in this state.[11][12]

Securities and investment protection[edit | edit source]

The Securities Division protects Maryland investors from fraud, and administers the Maryland Securities Act, Franchise Registration and Disclosure Law, and Business Opportunities Sales Act.[5]

Healthcare fraud prevention[edit | edit source]

The Medicaid Fraud and Vulnerable Victims Unit investigates and prosecutes healthcare provider Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse.[5]

Board and commission memberships[edit | edit source]

By law, the attorney general, or his or her designee, serves on the School Safety Subcabinet and chairs the Maryland Cybersecurity Council, the Commission on Hate Crimes Response and Prevention, and the Maryland Sexual Assault Evidence Kit Policy and Funding Committee.[13][14][15][16]

List of Maryland attorneys general[edit | edit source]

Colonial period[edit | edit source]

Colonial attorneys general of Maryland[17]
Image Name Term Home
Lt. Richard Smith, Sr. 1657–1660/61 Calvert County
Capt. Thomas Manning 1660/61–1666 Calvert County
Col. William Calvert 1666–1670 St. Mary's City
Col. Vincent Lowe 1670–1676 Talbot County
Kenelm Cheseldyne 1676–1681 St. Mary's City
Thomas Burford 1681–1686/87 Charles County
Robert Carvile 1688 St. Mary's City
Charles Carroll 1688–1689 St. Mary's City & Anne Arundel County
Col. George Plater, I 1691–1692 St. Mary's County
Edward Wynn 1692 St. Mary's County
Col. George Plater, I 1692–1698 St. Mary's County
Maj. William Dent 1698–1704 Charles County
Col. William Bladen 1704–1718 Annapolis
Thomas Bordley 1718–1721 Annapolis
Daniel Dulany, Sr. 1721–1725 Annapolis
Michael Howard 1725–1734 Talbot County
Daniel Dulany, Sr. 1734–1744 Annapolis
Henry Darnall, III 1744–1756 Prince George's County
Stephen Bordley 1756–1763 Annapolis
Edmund Key 1764–1766 Annapolis
Robert Goldsborough, II 1766–1768 Dorchester County
Thomas Jennings 1768–1776 Annapolis

Modern attorneys general[edit | edit source]

Modern attorneys general of Maryland
Image Name From To Party Law school
James Tilghman 1777 1778
Luther Martin 1778 1805
William Pinkney 1805 1806 Democratic-Republican
John Thomson Mason 1806 1806
John Johnson, Sr. 1806 1811
John Montgomery 1811 1818 Democratic-Republican
Luther Martin 1818 1822
Thomas Beale Dorsey 1822 1824 Democratic-Republican
Thomas Kell 1824 1827
Roger B. Taney 1827 1831 Democratic
Josiah Bayly 1831 1846
George R. Richardson 1846 1851
Robert J. Brent 1851 1864 Whig
Alexander Randall 1864 1867 Whig
Isaac Dashiell Jones 1867 1871 Whig
Andrew K. Syester 1871 1875 Whig
Charles J. M. Gwinn 1875 1883 Democratic
Charles Boyle Roberts 1883 1887 Democratic
William Pinkney Whyte 1887 1891 Democratic Harvard Law School
John Prentiss Poe 1891 1895 Democratic
Harry M. Clabaugh 1895 1899 Republican University of Maryland School of Law
George Riggs Gaither Jr. 1899 1899 Republican
Isidor Rayner 1899 1903 Democratic University of Virginia School of Law
William Shepard Bryan Jr. 1903 1907 Democratic University of Virginia School of Law
Isaac Lobe Straus 1907 1911 Democratic University of Maryland School of Law
Edgar Allan Poe 1911 1915 Democratic University of Maryland School of Law
Albert Ritchie 1915 1919 Democratic University of Maryland School of Law
Ogle Marbury (acting) 1918 1919 Democrat University of Maryland School of Law
Alexander Armstrong 1919 1923 Republican University of Pennsylvania Law School
Thomas H. Robinson 1923 1930 Democratic
William Preston Lane Jr. 1930 1934 Democratic University of Virginia School of Law
Herbert O'Conor 1934 1938 Democratic University of Maryland School of Law
William C. Walsh 1938 1945 Democratic Catholic University School of Law
William Curran 1945 1946 Democratic University of Maryland School of Law
Hall Hammond 1946 1952 Democratic University of Maryland School of Law
Edward D. E. Rollins 1952 1954 Republican University of Maryland School of Law
C. Ferdinand Sybert 1954 1961 Democratic University of Maryland School of Law
Thomas B. Finan 1961 1966 Democratic University of Maryland School of Law
Robert C. Murphy 1966 1966 Democratic University of Maryland School of Law
Francis B. Burch 1966 1978 Democratic Yale Law School
Jon F. Oster 1979 1979 Democratic University of Maryland School of Law
George A. Nilson 1979 1979 Democratic Yale Law School
Stephen H. Sachs 1979 1987 Democratic Yale Law School
J. Joseph Curran Jr. 1987 2007 Democratic University of Baltimore School of Law
Doug Gansler 2007 2015 Democratic University of Virginia School of Law
Brian Frosh 2015 2023 Democratic Columbia Law School
Anthony Brown 2023 Democratic Harvard Law School

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Template:Cite web
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  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Template:Cite web
  6. ↑ Template:Cite web
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  17. ↑ Template:Cite web

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:MD Gov branches Template:Maryland statewide elected officials Template:U.S. state attorneys general

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