Pennsylvania Attorney General
| Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania | |
 Incumbent Josh Shapiro since January 17, 2017 | |
| Term length | Four years |
| Formation | 1683 |
| Website | attorneygeneral.gov |
The Pennsylvania Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It became an elected office in 1980.[1] The current Attorney General is Democrat Josh Shapiro.
On August 15, 2016, then-Attorney General Kathleen Kane was convicted of criminal charges, including conspiracy, perjury, and obstruction of justice,[2][3] and announced her resignation the following day, effective August 17.[4] Consequently, as the Solicitor General, Bruce Castor assumed the office as Acting Attorney General.[5] Governor Tom Wolf nominated Bruce Beemer to serve out the remaining balance of Kane's term which expired in January 2017 in which Democrat Josh Shapiro succeeded Bruce Beemer.
Contents
1 Authority and responsibilities
2 List of attorneys general
2.1 Colonial attorneys general
2.2 President/Council appointed attorneys general
2.3 Attorneys general appointed between 1791 and 1920
2.4 Attorneys general appointed between 1920 and 1980
2.5 Occupants of the elected Pennsylvania Attorney General office (1981–present)
3 See also
4 References
5 External links
Authority and responsibilities
The Commonwealth Attorneys Act of 1980[6] established the Office of Attorney General as an independent office headed by an elected Attorney General.[7] The office has the responsibility for the prosecution of those crimes prosecuted by the commonwealth, including organized crime and public corruption, as well as civil litigation on behalf of some, but not all, commonwealth agencies and the civil enforcement of some commonwealth laws, including laws pertaining to consumer protection and charities. The Attorney General represents the commonwealth in all actions brought by or against the commonwealth and reviews all proposed rules and regulations by commonwealth agencies.[8]
The Attorney General also serves as a member of the Board of Pardons, the joint Committee on Documents, the Hazardous Substances Transportation Board, the Board of Finance and Revenue, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, the Civil Disorder Commission and the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission.
List of attorneys general
There have been four styles of selection of Pennsylvania Attorney General. The first phase was colonial, with the first Attorney General commissioned in 1683. At the outbreak of the Revolution, the sitting Attorney General, a loyalist, fled, and new Attorneys General were appointed, under the Constitution of 1776, by the state President (or Vice-President) with the Supreme Executive Council. Under the new Constitution of 1790, Attorneys General were appointed by the Governor, subject to approval by the Legislature (similar to how the United States Attorney General is appointed by the President of the United States). This remained in the Constitutions of 1838, 1874, and 1968. In 1978, voters approved an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution making the office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General an elected position, effective as of the general election of 1980.
Note that before William Penn, there were Attorneys General for New Sweden as early as 1643.[9]
Colonial attorneys general
Under the influence of David Lloyd, who served 1686–1710, Pennsylvania developed its first judicial system. Andrew Hamilton, who served 1717–1726, strongly influenced Pennsylvania law away from some aspects of the British system.[9]
- John White
- Samuel Hersent
- John White
- David Lloyd
- John Moore
- Robert Assheton
- Paromlus Parmyter
- George Lowther
- Thomas Clarke
- Robert Quarry
- Henry Wilson
- Andrew Hamilton
- Joseph Growden, Jr.
- John Kinsey
- Tench Francis, Sr.
- Benjamin Chew
- Andrew Allen
President/Council appointed attorneys general
| Name | Took office | Left office | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Morris, Jr. | July 16, 1777 | November 1, 1777 | pro tem[10] |
| Jonathan D. Sergeant | November 1, 1777 | November 23, 1780 | Resigned[11] |
| William Bradford | November 23, 1780 | — | Re-commissioned |
Attorneys general appointed between 1791 and 1920
| Name | Took office | Left office | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Bradford | June 9, 1791 | August 20, 1791 | Resigned[12] |
| Jared Ingersoll | August 20, 1791 | May 10, 1800 | |
| Joseph B. McKean | May 10, 1800 | July 22, 1808 | |
| Mahlon Dickerson | July 22, 1808 | January 9, 1809 | |
| Walter Franklin | January 9, 1809 | October 2, 1810 | Resigned[13] |
| Joseph Reed | October 2, 1810 | January 26, 1811 | |
| Richard Rush | January 26, 1811 | December 13, 1811 | |
| Jared Ingersoll | December 13, 1811 | December 21, 1816 | |
| Amos Ellmaker | December 21, 1816 | July 7, 1819 | |
| Thomas Sergeant | July 7, 1819 | December 20, 1820 | |
| Thomas Elder | December 20, 1820 | December 18, 1823 | |
| Frederick Smith | December 18, 1823 | February 5, 1828 | Resigned[14] |
| Calvin Blythe | February 5, 1828 | May 6, 1828 | |
| Amos Ellmaker | May 6, 1828 | August 17, 1829 | |
| Philip S. Markley | August 17, 1829 | February 10, 1830 | |
| Samuel Douglas | February 10, 1830 | January 29, 1833 | |
| Ellis Lewis | January 29, 1833 | October 14, 1833 | Resigned[15] |
| George M. Dallas | October 14, 1833 | December 1, 1835 | |
James Todd[16] | December 18, 1835 | April 2, 1838 | Resigned[17] |
| William B. Reed | April 2, 1838 | January 15, 1839 | |
| Ovid F. Johnson | January 15, 1839 | January 21, 1845 | |
| John K. Kane | January 21, 1845 | June 17, 1846[18] | Resigned[19] |
| John M. Read | June 23, 1846 | December 18, 1846 | Resigned |
| Benjamin Champneys | December 18, 1846 | July 31, 1848 | |
| James Cooper | July 31, 1848 | December 30, 1848 | Resigned |
| Cornelius Darragh | January 4, 1849 | April 28, 1851 | |
| Thomas E. Franklin | April 28, 1851 | January 21, 1852 | |
| James Campbell | January 21, 1852 | March 8, 1853 | Resigned[20] |
| Francis Wade Hughes | March 14, 1853 | January 17, 1855 | |
| Thomas E. Franklin | January 17, 1855 | January 19, 1858 | |
| John C. Knox | January 19, 1858 | January 16, 1861 | |
| Samuel A. Purviance | January 16, 1861 | June 3, 1861 | |
| William M. Meredith | June 3, 1861 | January 16, 1867 | |
| Benjamin Harris Brewster | January 16, 1867 | October 25, 1869 | Resigned |
| F. Carroll Brewster | October 26, 1869 | January 22, 1873 | |
| Samuel E. Dimmick | January 22, 1873 | October 11, 1875 | Died in office |
| George Lear | December 7, 1875 | February 26, 1879 | |
| Henry W. Palmer | February 26, 1879 | January 17, 1883 | |
| Lewis C. Cassidy | January 17, 1883 | January 18, 1887 | |
| William S. Kirkpatrick | January 18, 1887 | January 10, 1891 | |
| W. U. Hensel | January 10, 1891 | January 15, 1895 | |
| Henry Clay McCormick | January 15, 1895 | January 18, 1899 | |
| John P. Elkin | January 18, 1899 | January 21, 1903 | |
| Hampton L. Carson | January 21, 1903 | January 16, 1907 | |
| Moses Hampton Todd | January 16, 1907 | January 17, 1911 | |
| John C. Bell | January 17, 1911 | January 19, 1915 | |
| Francis Shunk Brown | January 19, 1915 | January 21, 1919 | |
| William I. Schaffer | January 21, 1919 | December 14, 1920 | Resigned |
Attorneys general appointed between 1920 and 1980
| Name | Took office | Left office | Governor(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
George E. Alter | December 14, 1920 | January 16, 1923 | ||
George Washington Woodruff | January 16, 1923 | January 18, 1927 | ||
Thomas J. Baldrige | January 18, 1927 | January 28, 1929[21] | | John Stuchell Fisher |
Cyrus E. Woods | January 28, 1929 | November 1, 1930[21] | ||
William A. Schnader | November 1, 1930[22] | January 15, 1935[23] | | |
| | Gifford Pinchot | |||
Charles J. Margiotti | January 15, 1935[24] | April 27, 1938[24] | | George Howard Earle III |
Guy K. Bard | April 27, 1938[24] | January 17, 1939[24] | ||
Claude T. Reno | January 17, 1939[25] | December 31, 1942[26] | | Arthur James |
E. Russell Shockley | December 31, 1942[26] | January 19, 1943[26] | ||
James H. Duff | January 19, 1943[27] | January 21, 1947[28] | | Edward Martin |
| | John C. Bell, Jr. | |||
T. McKeen Chidsey | January 21, 1947[28] | July 5, 1950[29] | | James H. Duff |
Charles J. Margiotti | July 5, 1950[30] | March 2, 1951[31] | ||
| | John S. Fine | |||
Robert E. Woodside | March 7, 1951[30] | October 1, 1953[24] | ||
Frank Truscott | October 13, 1953[24][30] | January 18, 1955 | ||
Herbert B. Cohen | January 18, 1955[30][32] | December 17, 1956[32] | | George M. Leader |
Thomas D. McBride | December 17, 1956[30][32] | January 20, 1959 | ||
Anne X. Alpern | January 20, 1959[30] | August 28, 1961[33] | | David L. Lawrence |
David Henry Stahl | August 29, 1961[30][33] | January 15, 1963 | ||
Walter E. Alessandroni | January 15, 1963[30] | May 8, 1966[34] | | William Scranton |
Edward Friedman | May 11, 1966[30][34] | January 17, 1967 | ||
William C. Sennett | January 17, 1967[30] | July 3, 1970[35] | | Raymond P. Shafer |
Fred Speaker | July 4, 1970[30] | January 19, 1971 | ||
J. Shane Creamer | January 25, 1971[30] | December 31, 1972[36][37] | | Milton Shapp |
Israel Packel | January 2, 1973[30] | December 23, 1974[38] | ||
Robert P. Kane | January 6, 1975[30] | June 7, 1978[39] | ||
Gerald Gornish | June 7, 1978[30][39] | December 31, 1978 | ||
J. Justin Blewitt, Jr. (acting) | January 1, 1979[30][40] | January 16, 1979[40] | ||
Edward G. Biester, Jr. | January 16, 1979[30][40] | May 19, 1980[40] | | Dick Thornburgh |
Harvey Bartle III | May 20, 1980[30][40] | January 20, 1981[40] | ||
Occupants of the elected Pennsylvania Attorney General office (1981–present)
| Name | Took office | Left office | |
|---|---|---|---|
| | LeRoy S. Zimmerman | January 20, 1981[41] | January 17, 1989[42] |
| | Ernie Preate | January 17, 1989[42] | June 23, 1995[43] |
| | Walter W. Cohen (acting) | June 26, 1995[30] | October 3, 1995[44] |
| | Tom Corbett | October 3, 1995[30][44] | January 21, 1997 |
| | Mike Fisher | January 21, 1997[30] | December 15, 2003[45] |
| | Jerry Pappert | January 18, 2004[30] | January 18, 2005 |
| | Tom Corbett | January 18, 2005[30] | January 18, 2011[46] |
| | William Ryan (acting) | January 18, 2011[46] | May 27, 2011 |
| | Linda Kelly | May 27, 2011[47] | January 15, 2013 |
| | Kathleen Kane | January 15, 2013[48] | August 17, 2016 |
| | Bruce Castor (acting) | August 17, 2016[30] | August 31, 2016 |
| | Bruce Beemer | August 31, 2016[30] | January 17, 2017 |
| | Josh Shapiro | January 17, 2017 | present |
See also
- Governor of Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania General Assembly
- Pennsylvania Auditor General
- Pennsylvania Treasurer
- Pennsylvania State Capitol
References
^ Penn. Const. Art. 4, § 4.1
^ Dale, Maryclaire (16 August 2016). "Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane Found Guilty on All Charges in Perjury Trial". Associated Press. NBC 10 Philadelphia. Retrieved 16 August 2016..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ Bidgood, Jess (16 August 2016). "Pennsylvania's Attorney General Is Convicted on All Counts". New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
^ CNN, Susannah Cullinane and Ralph Ellis. "Pennsylvania attorney general resigning". cnn.com.
^ Bumsted, Brad, (19 July 2016), "Castor Next In Line to Be Pennsylvania Attorney General", Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Accessed September 20, 2016.
^ 71 P. S. §732-101
^ OGC: Commonwealth Attorneys Act
^ The Office: Attorney General Tom Corbett - Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
^ ab "History of the Office of Attorney General". Archived from the original on 2006-09-23.
^ Morris was Clerk of the General Assembly
^ Pennsylvania Archives. 1858. p. 612.
^ Bradford accepted state Supreme Court appointment
^ Franklin accepted state judicial appointment
^ Smith accepted a position as Justice on the state Supreme Court
^ Lewis accepted a position as President Judge of the Eighth Judicial District
^ See article for citations regarding the dates.
^ Todd accepted a Philadelphia judicial appointment.
^ This is the date of his judicial commission; there is no date listed in The Pennsylvania Manual.
^ Kane accepted a federal judiciary appointment.
^ Campbell accepted the position of U. S. Postmaster General.
^ ab Resigned
^ "Schnader Takes Oath". Chester Times. International News Service. November 1, 1930. p. 8. Retrieved November 15, 2012.William A. Schnader, named attorney-general of Pennsylvania Wednesday to succeed Cyrus E. Wood when the latter resigned, took the oath of office at noon at the capital today.
^ "Forms Law Firm". Chester Times. January 14, 1935. p. 1. Retrieved November 15, 2012.William A. Schnader, who relinquishes the office of attorney general in Governor Pinchot's cabinet tomorrow…
^ abcdef Official Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania for the Years 1937 and 1938 (PDF). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 1939. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 15, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2012.Charles J. Margiotti, Attorney General (January 15, 1935 to April 27, 1938); Guy K. Bard, Attorney General (April 27, 1938 to January 17, 1939)
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^ "14 New Cabinet Members Safe; Two Are Held Up". Chester Times. United Press. January 18, 1939. p. 2. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
^ abc "Harrisburg Man to Fill Reno's Place; E. Russel Shockley Is New Attorney General". New Castle News. International News Service. December 31, 1942. p. 7.
Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "ShockleyIsNewAG" defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^ Jones, John E. (January 14, 1943). "Martin Picks Duff, Neel For Cabinet". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 1. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
^ ab "Blast Chesnut, Wilhelm, Smock Appointments". Chester Times. United Press. January 22, 1947. p. 2, no. 9. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
^ "Margiotti To Send Aide to Job Probe". Pittsburgh Press. July 5, 1950. p. 6. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxy "Office of Attorney General". Pennsylvania Department of State. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
^ "Margiotti Bows Out Of Cabinet". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. March 3, 1951. p. 2. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
^ abc Official Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania for the Years 1955 and 1956 (PDF). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 1956. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 10, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.Herbert B. Cohen (Commissioned January 18, 1955, Resigned December 17, 1956); Thomas D. McBride (Commissioned December 17, 1956)
^ ab Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania: 1961–1962 (PDF). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 1962. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.Anne X. Alpern (Resigned August 28, 1961); David Stahl (Commissioned August 29, 1961)
^ ab Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania: 1963–1966 (PDF). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 1966. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.Walter E. Alessandroni (Died May 8, 1966); Edward Friedman (May 11, 1966 to January 17, 1967)
^ Commonwealth v. Rozier, 67 Pa. D. & C. 2d 536, 539 (Common Pleas Court of York County, Pennsylvania, 1974) ("…he went out of office on July 3, 1970").
^ "2 Crime Unit Members Ousted In Pennsylvania". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. January 2, 1973. p. 7. Retrieved November 9, 2012.On Sunday, Gov. Milton J. Shapp…forced the resignation of Attorney General J. Shane Creamer….
^ Taylor, John (September 6, 1973). "Probe Centers on Free Booze Charge". Pittsburgh Press. p. 2. Retrieved November 9, 2012.…Creamer was ousted last Dec. 31
^ "Shapp Names Kane As New Attorney General". The News-Dispatch. United Press International. December 27, 1974. p. 2. Retrieved November 9, 2012.…Israel Packel, who submitted his resignation letter Monday.
^ ab "Gerald Gornish Takes Attorney General Post". Observer–Reporter. Associated Press. June 8, 1978. p. A-6. Retrieved November 9, 2012.Kane bowed out quietly Wednesday….
^ abcdef Opinions of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania: 1979–1981 (PDF). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 1981. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.J. Justin Blewitt, Jr., acting Attorney General (January 1, 1979 to January 16, 1979); Edward G. Biester, Jr., Attorney General (January 16, 1979 to May 19, 1980); Harvey Bartle III, Attorney General (May 20, 1980 to January 20, 1981)
^ Jensen, Edward (January 21, 1981). "Three state officials take oaths of office". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 5. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
^ ab "Casey welcomes Knoll, Hafer, Preate to office". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. January 18, 1989. p. 1. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
^ Moran, Robert (June 24, 1995). "Preate Is Gone But Not Quite Forgotten The Attorney General's Resignation Became Official Yesterday". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A-1. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
^ ab Forester Jr., John D. (October 4, 1995). "Corbett sworn in, pledges review of probe". Reading Eagle. p. 1. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
^ Ove, Torsten (December 16, 2003). "Fisher sworn in as federal judge". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
^ ab Bumsted, Brad; Wereschagin, Mike (January 18, 2011). "Corbett promises fiscal discipline, responsible government as he takes oath". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
^ "Linda L. Kelly becomes Pennsylvania Attorney General" (Press release). Pennsylvania Attorney General. May 27, 2011. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2012.Attorney General Linda L. Kelly took the oath of office today during a private ceremony in Harrisburg, officially assuming the powers and duties of Pennsylvania's top law enforcement officer.
^ Olson, Laura (January 15, 2013). "Three Democratic row officers sworn in". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
External links
Pennsylvania Attorney General official website
Pennsylvania Attorney General articles at Legal Newsline Legal Journal
Pennsylvania Attorney General articles at ABA Journal
News and Commentary at FindLaw
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes at Law.Justia.com
U.S. Supreme Court Opinions - "Cases with title containing: State of Pennsylvania" at FindLaw
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane profile at National Association of Attorneys General
Press releases at Pennsylvania Attorney General
Pennsylvania Attorneys General | ||
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Council-appointed (1776–91) |
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Governor-appointed (1791–1980) |
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| Elected (since 1980) |
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 Pennsylvania statewide elected officials | |
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