The attorney general of Kentucky is the chief legal officer of the U.S. state of Kentucky, created by the Kentucky Constitution (Ky.Const. § 91). Under Kentucky law, they serve several roles, including the state's chief prosecutor (KRS 15.700), the state's chief law enforcement officer (KRS 15.700), and the state's chief law officer (KRS 15.020). As the chief prosecutor, the attorney general is the chairman of the Kentucky Prosecutors Advisory Council, which supervises the prosecutors of Kentucky (KRS 15.700, KRS 15.705). As chief law officer, they write opinions to advise government officials and agencies concerning the law. (KRS 15.020). The attorney general holds an ex officio seat on various Kentucky state boards and agencies.
| Attorney General of Kentucky | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the attorney general | |
 | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Term length | Four years, two term limit |
| Inaugural holder | George Nicholas 1792 |
| Formation | Kentucky Constitution |
| Salary | $139,724.88[1] |
| Website | Office of the Attorney General |
The attorney general of Kentucky is elected for a four-year term in the same year other statewide officers are elected, rather than being appointed as in some states such as Alaska. A 1992 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution permits the attorney general of Kentucky to serve two consecutive terms. (Ky.Const. § 93). The attorney general appoints a deputy and various assistants to the attorney general, who have the power to act on his behalf. (KRS 15.100(1)).
The attorney general of Kentucky is currently Republican Russell Coleman.
List of attorneys general of Kentucky
edit| # | Image | Name | Political party | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Nicholas | Federalist | 1792–1793 | |
| 2 | 
|
John Breckinridge | Democratic-Republican | 1793–1797 |
| 3 | James Blair | Democratic-Republican | 1797–1820 | |
| 4 | Joseph M. White | Democratic-Republican | 1820 | |
| 5 | 
|
Ben Hardin | Democratic-Republican | 1820–1821 |
| 6 | 
|
Solomon P. Sharp | Democratic-Republican | 1821–1825 |
| 7 | Frederick W. S. Grayson | Jacksonian | 1825–1825 | |
| 8 | James W. Denny | Jacksonian | 1825–1832 | |
| 9 | 
|
Charles Morehead | Whig | 1832–1838 |
| 10 | Owen G. Cotes | Democratic | 1838–1849 | |
| 11 | 
|
Madison Conyers Johnson | Democratic | 1849 |
| 12 | 
|
James Harlan | Whig | 1849–1859 |
| 13 | Andrew J. James | Democratic | 1859–1861 | |
| 14 | 
|
John M. Harlan | Union | 1861–1865 |
| 15 | John Rodman | Democratic | 1865–1875 | |
| 16 | Thomas Edward Moss | Democratic | 1875–1879 | |
| 17 | 
|
Parker Watkins Hardin | Democratic | 1879–1889 |
| 18 | 
|
William J. Hendrick | Democratic | 1889–1896 |
| 19 | 
|
William S. Taylor | Republican | 1896–1900 |
| 20 | R. J. Breckinridge | Democratic | 1900–1902 | |
| 21 | C. J. Pratt | Democratic | 1902–1904 | |
| 22 | N. B. Hays | Democratic | 1904–1908 | |
| 23 | James Breathitt | Republican | 1908–1912 | |
| 24 | James Garnett | Democratic | 1912–1916 | |
| 25 | 
|
M. M. Logan | Democratic | 1916–1917 |
| 26 | Charles H. Morris | Democratic | 1917–1920 | |
| 27 | 
|
Charles I. Dawson | Republican | 1920–1923 |
| 28 | 
|
Thomas Burnett McGregor | Democratic | 1923–1924 |
| 29 | Frank E. Daugherty | Democratic | 1924–1928 | |
| 30 | James W. Cammack | Democratic[2] | 1928–1932 | |
| 31 | Bailey P. Wootton | Democratic | 1932–1936 | |
| 32 | B. M. Vincent | Democratic | 1936–1937 | |
| 33 | Hubert Meredith | Democratic | 1937–1944 | |
| 34 | Eldon S. Dummit | Republican | 1944–1948 | |
| 35 | Alvarado E. Funk | Democratic | 1948–1952 | |
| 36 | J. D. Buckman, Jr. | Democratic | 1952–1956 | |
| 37 | Jo M. Ferguson | Democratic | 1956–1960 | |
| 38 | 
|
John Bayne Breckinridge | Democratic | 1960–1964 |
| 39 | Robert F. Matthews, Jr. | Democratic | 1964–1968 | |
| 40 |
|
John Bayne Breckinridge | Democratic | 1968–1972 |
| 41 | Ed W. Hancock | Democratic | 1972–1976 | |
| 42 | Robert F. Stephens | Democratic | 1976–1979 | |
| Acting | 
|
Steve Beshear | Democratic | 1979–1980 |
| 43 | 1980–1984 | |||
| 44 | David L. Armstrong | Democratic | 1984–1988 | |
| 45 | Fred Cowan | Democratic | 1988–1992 | |
| 46 | Chris Gorman | Democratic | 1992–1996 | |
| 47 | 
|
Ben Chandler | Democratic | 1996–2004 |
| 48 | 
|
Greg Stumbo | Democratic | 2004–2008 |
| 49 | 
|
Jack Conway | Democratic | 2008–2016 |
| 50 | 
|
Andy Beshear | Democratic | 2016–2019 |
| Acting | 
|
Daniel Cameron[3] | Republican | 2019–2020 |
| 51 | 2020–2024 | |||
| 52 |
|
Russell Coleman | Republican | 2024–present |
References
edit- ^ "Transparency.ky.gov - Salary Search". May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ Kentucky Official Primary Ballot, Democratic party, August 6, 1927
- ^ "Andy Beshear appoints Attorney General-elect Daniel Cameron to fill remainder of his term". WYMT. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
External links
edit- Kentucky Attorney General official website
The Kentucky Attorney General's Office is divided into the following divisions:
- Administrative Hearings Division
- Child Support Enforcement Commission (CSEC)
- Kentucky Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI)
- Medicaid Fraud Division
- Office of Civil and Environmental Law
- Office of Consumer Protection
- Office of Criminal Appeals
- Office of Rate Intervention
- Prosecutors Advisory Council
- Special Prosecutions Division
- Uninsured Employers' Fund
- Office for Victims Advocacy