ND AG Outlines Thoughtful Response to Prison Overcrowding

The well respected AG of North Dakota - Wayne Stenehjem - outlined a multi-pronged initiative to both relieve his prison overcrowding and accomplish the real "roll up your sleeves" way to accomplish criminal justice reform. The AG calls on his legislature to increase access to behavioral health treatment services in a vaiety of ways, including creating more addiction counselors. "I also know that a lot of these people ... could, if they got good, available, affordable, often long-term treatment, become contributing members of society," he stated.  For this and other criminal justice reforms being carried out by attorneys general, go to this site.

Profile of Il. AG Lisa Madigan

I have had the opportunity to work with many attorneys general over the last 30 years, and I have to say that very few love the job with the longevity and the intensity of Il. AG Lisa Madigan. Names like Tom Miller (Iowa), Dick Blumenthal (Ct), Greg Zoeller (Indiana) and Lawerence Wasden (Idaho) all come to mind, but I think General Madigan captures the very essence of the job when she says in this profile that "being attorney general has truly allowed me to be a voice for justice for the people of Illinois and oftentimes the country — and I love it.” General Madigan spoke at Columbia Law School on Human Rights and also at Harvard Law School at my Spring Seminar on the Role of the State Attorney General, and in both situations inspired the students and faculty who heard her.

Md. AG Sues Finance Companies on Structured Settlements

Calling it "exploitation in its worst form," the Md AG has sued Access Funding for its marketing of their purchasing lead paint settlements from low income families and then selling the downstream revenue stream.  The AG is seeking to return $17 million to over 70 Maryland consumers and is receiving editorial support.  The case is the result of a seven-month investigation.  A spokesperson for the National Association of Settlement Purchasers called Maryland an "isolated place" and that the Maryland facts were unique.  My guess is that other attorneys general will be carefully monitoring the practices of this growing industry.

AG's and High Speed Chases

During all of my time as Attorney General of Maine in the 1980's, I did everything I could to discourage high speed chases that all too often ended in unspeakable tragedy for police offices, innocent by standers and those pursued. Because the issue is always a matter of split-second judgment by individual police officers, I concluded that it was not something that could be resolved by legislation, but rather could only be addressed by constant and repeated police training on a local, county and state level. Maine has made progress in curtailing these chases and nationally there has been a reduction. Today's news carries the story that once again the Oh AG is showing leadership in developing a statewide policy on high speed chases for all of Ohio's law enforcement personnel.

AG's Lead on Criminal Justice Reform

AG's around the country are leading their Governors and Legislatures through the myriad of issues inherent in the criminal justice reforms that are occuring in many states. Working closely with prosecutors, state correction officials and advocacy groups, AG's such as Sam Olens in Georgia and Tom Miller in Iowa are shepherding reforms and emerging as national leaders far from the glare of the national spotlight.  We at the National State Attorney General Program are continually monitoring these historic efforts and will continue to do so on this page and in my blog.

Idaho AG Charges State Legislators

The Idaho AG, already in trouble with his own party as noted in my blog of April 1, continues to receive support in his legislative battles.  Today he has announced that he has charged two prominent state legislators with campaign finance violations.   All this while he is at the NAAG Presidential Initiative on modern policing efforts being held in South Dakota, so don't let anyone tell you that states with small populations are not nationally important.

AG's Fight Notorio Fraud

An increasing number of attorneys general are gearing up to fight "notario fraud," a long-standing practice whereby scam artists illegally market themselves as being able to assist families with immigration issues. Attorneys general offices are being assisted in that effort by the Federal Trade Commission and the Diverse Communities Initiative at Columbia Law School as they focus their efforts on vulnerable diverse communities.

NY AG Sues Health Insurer over Coverage

The NY AG has sued a health insurer for denying coverage to insured who have Hepititus C.  His office then settled with seven other insurers on the same issue. The insurers say thatcoverage only kicks in when symptoms become advanced, but the AG (and private suits) say that that thisrestriction does not appear in the text of the coverage documents.  I want to make two points.  The first is that the tension between insurers and insured remains high, and the second is that in some states the AG is able to play a role either in litigation or in how that AG "represents" its client, the Department of Insurance all of whom have created complex regulations designed to keep these questions out of the courts.  For those who follow the world of attorneys general, this is one to watch.

FTC Partners with State AG Offices

Although much is written about State v. Federal government acrimony, the day-to-day world of governing is often markedby repeated success.  Today the Federal Trade Commission gave its fourth "Partner Award" to the NY AG Buffalo Regional Office in their joint efforts to crack down on illegal debt collection practices.  Previously, the FTC had given "Partner Awards" to the AG Offices of Colorado and Florida.

AL AG Has "No Guns Allowed" Signs Removed from Airports and Library

The Alabama AG has ordered the "No Guns Allowed" signs removed from the non-secure areas of the Birmingham and Montgomery Airports as well as the Montevallo Public Library.

Former AG's (and Governors) Discuss How They Have Lived their Lives

As each semester draws to a close, I meet one-on-one with each of my graduating students who within months will have joined our profession and be practicing law. In many of those discussions, my Harvard and Columbia students will ask me bluntly, "How do I know where to go with my career?  Who should I be like?  Where should I turn for role models?"  I often answer by directing them to these video interviews done in 2009 where six of the finest public officials I know tell their personal stories.  I never tire of watching former Attorneys General Abrams (NY), Bullock (MT), Woods (AZ), Merrill (NH) and Harvey (NJ), who along with former Deputy White House Counsel and law Professor Bill Marshall, share the paths they have followed that have made our world a more just place in which to live.

AG Criminal Jurisdiction

I am regularly astounded when many who should know better - including academics - speak and write at length on criminal prosecution and justice reform as if state attorneys general lack criminal jurisdiction. Today's tragedy in Ohio should make clear that it is often the AG whose office takes over the most difficult cases. For a thoughtful summary of AG criminal jurisdiction, let me refer you to this excellent Chapter from NAAG's Powers and Duties text that is written by NAAG Deputy Director and former Indiana DA, Chris Toth.

Eight AG's Pressure Major Retailers on "On Call" workers

Led by the NY AG, eight attorneys general have written a letter to major retailers as part of their investigation into how they schedule their "on call" workers who are required to phone their employer just a few hours before they are to report.   In 2015, several major retailers such as Pier 1 Imports and Abercrombie and Fitch agreed to end the assigning of on call shifts and post schedules further in advance.  The implications for millions of workers are obvious, and this is an issue that will continue to grow among attorneys general.

AG's Must Deal with Immigration Issues and State Professional Licensing

Almost all AG's provide legal counsel to state licensing boards and therefore are now facing the issue of whether immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children will be able to work in these licensed professions in light of President Obama's 2012 Executive Order.  Depending on the decision of the US Supreme Court in US v. Texas, the issue could become even larger. The legislature in one state, Nebraska, overrode a veto and came down on the side of the immigrants.  One way or the other, all AG's will have to counsel their client licensing boards on this issue.

MT AG Convenes Law Enforcement and Crime Victims

The Massachusetts Supreme Court wisely stated decades ago that the powers of the state attorney general are not "exhaustively defined."  Nowhere is this more true than when an AG utilizes his or her "power to convene" in order to make law enforcement work a little better.  In this instance, the AG of Montana, far away from the headlines, convened a local forum of law enforcement and crime victims in order to enhance justice in his state.

KY AG Sues Governor Over Education Budget Cuts

True to his word, the Ky AG has now sued to enjoin his Governor's order to cut the education budget. New Governors, often with no prior government experience, seem to not pay much attention to those constitutional or statutory provisions that limit their authority.  State constitutions are structured so that it is the AG who is the natural enforcer of state separation of powers provisions. While rarely do these matters actually result in litigation - an AG Opinion often suffices - it does seem that these fights are more public and a lot nastier.

NY AG Revises Code of Conduct for NY Windpower

Over 50,000 wind turbines are currently turning and creating renewable energy in almost every state, but their existence and regulation remain a matter of significant controversy. In 2011, the State of New York passed a wind turbine sighting law that largely preempted local government control, and this week the NY AG issued a revised "Code of Conduct" designed to ensure greater transparency and limit corruption and conflict of interest.   I know of no other AG who has taken this step.

A Delicate Balance: Oklahoma AG's Approach to Overseeing Occupational Licensing Boards

Columbia Law School was pleased this week to host OK AG Scott Pruitt who was sponsored by the Columbia Law Federalist Society.  In both our private conversations and during his remarks, Scott specifically mentioned his Office's leadership in handling the fallout from NC Dental v. the FTC.  The issue has roiled the offices of many attorneys general as they balance their duty to represent occupational licensing boards even as they promote competition. Oklahoma's approach is the full-time responsibility of a lawyer from the OK Solicitor Generals office, which is crafting a pro competition model that is being followed by other states.

Ohio AG Leads on Testing Rape Kits

Yesterday I had the honor of giving the luncheon address at the Management Retreat of the Ohio Office of the Attorney General after which Attorney General Mike DeWine and I had a personal discussion that covered a variety of issues the most newsworthy of which is his office's success since 2011 in testing 13,000 old rape kits.  Mike reported that approximately 30% of the kits tested positive - some years old and some of serial rapists - and that these results are leading to successful prosecutions. USDOJ and other prosecutors are making similar efforts in this important and long overdue effort to assure justice to rape victims.

Minnesota AG Trial Against For Profit School Begins

Attorneys general have been investigating, suing and settling with for-profit schools for the last several years. Working with a plethora of federal agencies, the AG's have reached a number of sweeping settlements that have brought some relief to students whom the AG's and federal agenices asserted had been the victims of fraud. Until now, none of those investigations had actually gone to trial which is what makes Minnesota AG Lori Swanson's case against Globe University so interesting. This bench trial is expected to last four weeks.