The Connecticut attorney general is the state attorney general of Connecticut.
The attorney general is elected to a four-year term. According to state statute, eligibility for the office requires being "an attorney at law of at least ten years' active practice at the bar of this state." A State Supreme Court ruling from 2010, Bysiewicz v. Dinardo Et Al. (SC 18612) attempted to clarify this statute. The court's ruling sets a de facto 10-year residency requirement for candidates and bars those with no litigation experience, although "litigation experience" was left undefined. These requirements are stronger than other states in the area. In New York, the only requirements are being a resident for five years and at least 30 years old. In Massachusetts, the only requirements are being admitted to the state bar and having US citizenship for five years.
The Office of the Attorney General was officially created by the Connecticut General Assembly in 1897. The current attorney general is William Tong, a Democrat serving since January 9, 2019.
Unlike other states, the Connecticut Attorney General is not responsible for criminal prosecution in Connecticut. In Connecticut the Attorney General generally exercises only civil jurisdiction. The Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of all criminal matters in the State of Connecticut overseen by the Chief State's Attorney.
List of attorneys general Parties
Image Name Town Political party Term Charles Phelps Vernon Republican 1899–1903 William A. King Windham Republican 1903–1907 Marcus H. Holcomb Southington Republican 1907–1910 John H. Light Norwalk Republican 1910–1915 George E. Hinman Windham Republican 1915–1919 Frank E. Healy Windsor Locks Republican 1919–1927 Benjamin W. Alling New Britain Republican 1927–1931 Warren B. Burrows Groton Republican 1931–1935 Edward J. Daly Hartford Democratic 1935–1937 Charles J. McLaughlin West Hartford Democratic 1937–1938 Dennis P. O'Connor Hartford Democratic 1938–1939 Francis A. Pallotti Hartford Republican 1939–1945 William L. Hadden West Haven Republican 1945–1951 George C. Conway Guilford Republican 1951–1953 William L. Beers New Haven Republican 1953–1955 John J. Bracken Hartford Republican 1955–1959 Albert L. Coles Bridgeport Democratic 1959–1963 Harold M. Mulvey New Haven Democratic 1963–1968 Robert K. Killian Hartford Democratic 1968–1975 Carl R. Ajello Ansonia Democratic 1975–1983 Joe Lieberman Stamford Democratic 1983–1989 Clarine Nardi Riddle New Haven Democratic 1989–1991 Richard Blumenthal Greenwich Democratic 1991–2011 George Jepsen Hartford Democratic 2011–2019 William Tong Stamford Democratic 2019–
See also 2010 Connecticut Attorney General election 2014 Connecticut Attorney General election 2018 Connecticut Attorney General election 2022 Connecticut Attorney General election
References
External links Connecticut Attorney General official website Connecticut Attorney General articles at ABA Journal News and Commentary at FindLaw Connecticut General Statutes at Law.Justia.com U.S. Supreme Court Opinions - "Cases with title containing: State of Connecticut" at FindLaw Connecticut Bar Association Connecticut Attorney General George Jespen profile at National Association of Attorneys General at Connecticut Attorney General's office