Attorney General of Louisiana

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Louisiana Attorney General

Seal of Louisiana.png

General information
Office Type:  Partisan
Office website:  Official Link
Compensation:  $115,000
2024 FY Budget:  $94,565,094
Term limits:  None
Structure
Length of term:   4 years
Authority:  Louisiana Constitution, Article 4, Section 8
Selection Method:  Elected
Current Officeholder

Attorney General of Louisiana Liz Murrill
Republican Party
Assumed office: 2024-01-08

Elections
Next election:  November 20, 2027
Last election:  November 18, 2023
Other Louisiana Executive Offices
Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission

The Attorney General of Louisiana is a constitutional officer within the executive branch of the Louisiana state government. The attorney general is the chief legal officer of Louisiana. In this capacity, the attorney general is responsible for providing official legal opinions to state agencies, officers and legislators. He may also advise local political subdivisions and their offices. Louisiana elects its attorneys general to four-year terms in years preceding presidential contests and the office is not subject to term limits. [1]


Louisiana has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.

Current officeholder

The current Attorney General of Louisiana is Liz Murrill (R). Murrill assumed office in 2024.

Authority

The office of attorney general is established by Article 4, Section 8 of the Louisiana Constitution. The incumbent is granted the authority to intervene in "any civil action or proceeding," to "assist in the prosecution of any criminal case," and to represent the state in any civil or criminal action.[2]

Louisiana Constitution, Article 4, Section 8

... the attorney general shall have authority (1) to institute, prosecute, or intervene in any civil action or proceeding; (2) upon the written request of a district attorney, to advise and assist in the prosecution of any criminal case; and (3) for cause, when authorized by the court which would have original jurisdiction and subject to judicial review, (a) to institute, prosecute, or intervene in any criminal action or proceeding, or (b) to supersede any attorney representing the state in any civil or criminal action. The attorney general shall exercise other powers and perform other duties authorized by this constitution or by law."

Qualifications

Article 4, Section 2 of the Louisiana Constitution requires that a candidate for attorney general be at least twenty-five years old, a citizen of the United States and Louisiana for the five years preceding election, and permitted to practice law in the state for at least five years.[3]

Louisiana Constitution, Article 4, Section 2

To be eligible for any statewide elective office, a person, by the date of his qualification as a candidate, shall have attained the age of twenty-five years, be an elector, and have been a citizen of the United States and of this state for at least the preceding five years. In addition, the attorney general shall have been admitted to the practice of law in the state for at least the five years preceding his election. During his tenure in office, a statewide elected official shall hold no other public office except by virtue of his elected office.

Elections

Louisiana state government organizational chart

The Louisiana Constitution prescribes that all statewide executive officials, including the attorney general, be elected for a term of four years, and that their term begin "at noon on the second Monday in January next following the election.[4]Executive officials are elected in years preceding presidential contests (2011, 2015, 2019, etc.).

2023

See also: Louisiana Attorney General election, 2023


Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.

General election

General election for Attorney General of Louisiana

Liz Murrill defeated Lindsey Cheek in the general election for Attorney General of Louisiana on November 18, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Liz-Murrill.png
Liz Murrill (R)
 
66.4
 
444,544
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Lindsey-Cheek.png
Lindsey Cheek (D)
 
33.6
 
225,050

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 669,594
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Attorney General of Louisiana

Liz Murrill and Lindsey Cheek defeated John Stefanski, Perry Walker Terrebonne, and Marty Maley in the primary for Attorney General of Louisiana on October 14, 2023.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Liz-Murrill.png
Liz Murrill (R)
 
45.2
 
463,103
✔
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Lindsey-Cheek.png
Lindsey Cheek (D)
 
23.4
 
239,652
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/John-Stefanski.png
John Stefanski (R)
 
16.8
 
172,300
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Perry Walker Terrebonne (D)
 
7.3
 
74,479
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MartyMaley.png
Marty Maley (R)
 
7.2
 
74,176

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,023,710
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

2019

See also: Louisiana Attorney General election, 2019


Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Attorney General of Louisiana

Incumbent Jeff Landry won election outright against Ike Jackson in the primary for Attorney General of Louisiana on October 12, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Jeff_Landry.jpg
Jeff Landry (R)
 
66.2
 
855,366
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/DSC_0761.JPG
Ike Jackson (D)
 
33.8
 
436,502

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,291,868
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2015

See also: Louisiana Attorney General election, 2015

There was a regularly scheduled election for attorney general in 2015. Buddy Caldwell (R) ran for re-election. The primary election took place on October 24, 2015, with a runoff election on November 21, 2015.

General election

Incumbent Buddy Caldwell was defeated by fellow Republican Jeff Landry in the general election.[5]

Attorney General of Louisiana, General Election, 2015
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Buddy Caldwell 43.7% 473,869
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Landry 56.3% 610,433
Total Votes 1,084,302
Election Results Louisiana Secretary of State.

[6]

Primary election

No candidate received an outright majority in the blanket primary election on October 24, 2015. The two candidates with the most votes, who qualified for the November 21st runoff election, were incumbent Buddy Caldwell (R) and Jeff Landry (R).[7]

Attorney General of Louisiana, Blanket Primary, 2015
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBuddy Caldwell 35.4% 376,187
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngJeff Landry 32.7% 347,441
     Democratic Geraldine "Geri" Broussard Baloney 17.6% 187,332
     Democratic Ike Jackson 10.8% 115,037
     Republican Marty Maley 3.6% 37,787
Total Votes 1,063,784
Election Results Louisiana Secretary of State.

Full History


Term limits

There are no term limits for Louisiana's statewide executive officials other than the governor. Bills have occasionally been introduced into the state legislature to implement such limits, but the latest attempt, in 2010, failed.[9]

Vacancies

Per Article 4, Section 16 of the Louisiana Constitution, vacancies in the office of attorney general are filled by first assistant attorney general, unless the length of the unexpired term exceeds one year. In that case, the governor calls a special election to fill the vacancy.[10]

Duties

The official website of the Louisiana attorney general gives its mission as "to protect the ... State of Louisiana by providing superior legal representation, and interpretation, professional and effective law enforcement, and public education programs." As chief legal officer of the state, the attorney general is also responsible for providing official legal opinions to state agencies, officers and legislators. He may also advise local political subdivisions and their offices.

As noted above, the attorney general of Louisiana, under certain conditions, intervenes in civil or criminal cases in state courts, and may represent the state itself in civil or criminal actions.[11]

Divisions

As of January 10, 2021, the Louisiana Department of Justice is divided into the follow divisions:

  • Civil
  • Criminal
  • Executive
  • Communications
  • Gaming
  • Louisiana Bureau of Investigation
  • Litigation
  • Public Protection
  • Solicitor General[12]

State budget

See also: Louisiana state budget and finances

The Office of the Attorney General's budget for Fiscal Year 2024 was $94,565,094.[13]

Compensation

See also: Compensation of state executive officers

The salary of the attorney general, along with the rest of Louisiana's elected executives, is determined by the Louisiana State Legislature. Article IV, Section 4 requires that changes in compensation take effect in the term after they were passed.[14]

Louisiana Constitution, Article IV, Section 4

Compensation Section 4. Except as otherwise provided by this constitution, the compensation of each statewide elected official shall be provided by law. An increase in the salary of a statewide elected official shall not become effective until the commencement of the subsequent term for that office following the adoption or enactment of the increase.

2022

In 2022, the officer's salary was $115,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]

2021

In 2021, the attorney general received a salary of $115,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]

2020

In 2020, the attorney general received a salary of $110,740, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]

2019

In 2019, the attorney general received a salary of $115,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]

2018

In 2018, the attorney general received a salary of $115,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[19]

2017

In 2017, the attorney general received a salary of $115,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[20]

2016

In 2016, the attorney general received a salary of $115,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[21]

2015

In 2015, the attorney general received a salary of $115,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[22]

2014

In 2014, the attorney general earned a salary of $115,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[23]

2013

In 2013, the attorney general's salary remained at $115,000.[24]

2012

In 2012, the attorney general was paid an estimated $115,000. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.

2010

In 2010, the attorney general received a salary of $115,000.[25]

Campaign finance

Main article: Campaign finance requirements for Louisiana ballot measures

The Attorney General of Louisiana is responsible for prosecuting all criminal violations of Louisiana's campaign finance laws.[26]

If someone feels a person violated Louisiana's campaign finance laws, the first step is to file a complaint with the Louisiana Ethics Administration Program.[27] It is up to the Supervisory Committee of the Ethics Administration Program on a two-thirds vote to approve all investigations.[28]

Historical officeholders

Since becoming a state in 1812, Louisiana has had 44 attorneys general.


# Name Took office Left office Party
1 François Xavier Martin 1812 1815 Democratic Republican
2 Etienne Mazureau 1815 1817 Democratic Republican
3 Louis Moreau-Lislet 1817 1819 Democratic Republican
4 Thomas B. Robertson 1819 1821 Democratic Republican
5 Etienne Mazureau 1821 1824 Clay-Adams Republican
6 Isaac Trimble Preston 1824 1828
7 Alonzo Morphy 1828 1830
8 George Eustis 1830 1833
9 Etienne Mazureau 1833 1841 Whig
10 Christian Roselius 1841 1843 Whig
11 Isaac Trimble Preston 1843 1846
12 William Augustus Elmore 1846 1850
13 Isaac Johnson 1850 1854 Democrat
14 Isaac Edward Morse 1854 1856 Democrat
15 E. Warren Moise 1856 1860
16 Thomas J. Semmes 1860 1864 Democrat
17 F.S. Goode 1864 1866
18 Andrew S. Herron 1866 1867
19 BL Lynch 1867 1869
20 Simeon Beldon 1869 1873
21 Alexander Pope Field 1873 1876
22 William H. Hunt 1876 1876 Republican
23 Hiram R. Steele 1876 1877
24 Horatio Nash Ogden 1877 1880
25 James C. Egan 1880 1884
26 Milton J. Cunningham 1884 1888
27 Walter Henry Rogers 1888 1892
28 Milton J. Cunningham 1892 1900
29 Walter Guion 1900 1912 Democrat
30 Ruffin G. Pleasant 1912 1916 Democrat
31 Adolphe V. Coco 1916 1924
32 Percy D. Saint 1924 1932
33 Gaston L. Porterlie 1932 1939
34 James B. Ellison 1939 1939
35 Lessley P. Gardiner 1939 1940
36 Eugene Stanley 1940 1944
37 Fred S. LeBlanc 1944 1948
38 Bolivar Edwards Kemp, Jr. 1948 1952
39 Fred S. LeBlanc 1952 1956
40 Jack P.F. Gremillion 1956 1972 Democrat
41 William J. Guste 1972 1992 Democrat
42 Richard Ieyoub 1992 2004 Democrat
43 Charles C. Foti, Jr. 2004 2008 Democrat
44 James D. "Buddy" Caldwell 2008 2016 Democrat/Republican
45 Jeff Landry 2016 2023 Republican
46 Liz Murrill 2024 Present Republican

Contact information

1885 N. Third Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Phone:

  • 225-326-6079
  • 225-326-6757
  • 877-297-0995

E-mail: constituentservices@ag.louisiana.gov

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Attorney General of Louisiana, "About Us," accessed January 10, 2021
  2. ↑ Louisiana State Legislature, "Louisiana State Constitution Article 4," accessed January 10, 2021
  3. ↑ Louisiana State Legislature, "Louisiana State Constitution Article 4," accessed January 10, 2021
  4. ↑ Louisiana State Legislature, "Louisiana State Constitution Article 4," accessed January 10, 2021
  5. ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "Unofficial Election Results," accessed November 21, 2015
  6. ↑ Associated Press, "Louisiana - County Vote Results: Attorney General - General," November 21, 2015
  7. ↑ The Lens, "Election 2015," accessed October 25, 2015
  8. ↑ New Orleans Times Picayune, "Attorney General Buddy Caldwell switches to Republican," February 3, 2011
  9. ↑ Louisiana State Legislature, "2010 Regular Session, House Bill 51 (Rep. Simone Champagne, sponsor)," accessed January 10, 2021
  10. ↑ Louisiana Constitution, Article 4, Section 16," accessed May 17, 2011
  11. ↑ Louisiana Attorney General's Office, "About Us," accessed January 10, 2021
  12. ↑ Office of the Attorney General, "Divisions," accessed January 10, 2021
  13. ↑ Louisiana House of Representatives, "FY 2024 State Budget Tracker," accessed December 8, 2023
  14. ↑ Louisiana Constitution of 1974, "ARTICLE IV EXECUTIVE BRANCH; COMPENSATION," accessed January 10, 2021
  15. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
  16. ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
  17. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 10, 2021
  18. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 10, 2021
  19. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 10, 2021
  20. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 10, 2021
  21. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
  22. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
  23. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 24, 2014
  24. ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials:Annual Salaries," accessed January 23, 2014
  25. ↑ The Book of States, Council of State Governments 2010," accessed May 17, 2010.
  26. ↑ Louisiana Legislature, "Louisiana Revised Statutes (Referenced Statute 18:1511.6(A)-(B) Louisiana Revised Statutes)," accessed January 10, 2021
  27. ↑ Louisiana Legislature, "Louisiana Revised Statutes (Referenced Statute 18:1511.2(A) 1, Louisiana Revised Statutes)," accessed January 10, 2021
  28. ↑ Louisiana Legislature, "Louisiana Revised Statutes (Referenced Statute 18:1511.4(A), Louisiana Revised Statutes," accessed January 10, 2021
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