# United States Attorney General

The United States attorney general is the head of the United States Department of Justice and serves as the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The attorney general acts as the principal legal advisor to the president of the United States on all legal matters. The attorney general is also a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States and a member of the United States National Security Council. Additionally, the attorney general is seventh in the presidential line of succession.
Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution, the officeholder is nominated by the president of the United States, and, following a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, will take office if confirmed by the majority of the full United States Senate. The attorney general is supported by the Office of the Attorney General, which includes executive staff and several deputy attorneys general.
The attorney general is a Level I position in the Executive Schedule and thus earns the salary prescribed for that level: $250,600, as of January 2025.

## Name

The title, "Attorney General" is an example of a noun (attorney) followed by a postpositive adjective (general). "General" is a description of the type of attorney, not a title or rank in itself (as it would be in the military). Even though the attorney general (and the similarly titled solicitor general) is occasionally referred to as "General" or "General [last name]" by senior government officials, this is considered incorrect in standard American English usage. For the same reason, the correct American English plural form is "attorneys general" rather than "attorney generals".

## History

Congress passed the Judiciary Act of 1789 which, among other things, established the Office of the Attorney General. The original duties of this officer were "to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court in which the United States shall be concerned, and to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law when required by the president of the United States, or when requested by the heads of any of the departments". Some of these duties have since been transferred to the United States solicitor general and the White House counsel.
The Department of Justice was established in 1870 to support the attorneys general in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The secretary of state, the secretary of the treasury, the secretary of defense, and the attorney general are regarded as the four most important Cabinet officials in the United States because of the size and importance of their respective departments.
The attorney general is a Level I position in the Executive Schedule, thus earning a salary of US$221,400, as of January 2021.

## Duties and Responsibilities

The attorney general's duties and responsibilities as the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government include overseeing the United States Department of Justice, enforcing federal laws, and providing both formal and informal legal advice and opinions to the president of the United States, the cabinet, and the heads of executive departments and agencies. The attorney general represents the federal government in legal matters and supervises the administration and operation of the Department of Justice, which includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Attorneys, and the United States Marshals Service.
Additionally, the attorney general advises the president of the United States on appointments to federal judicial positions and Department of Justice roles, including U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals. While the attorney general may represent the United States in the Supreme Court and other courts, this is typically handled by the solicitor general. The attorney general also performs or supervises other duties as required by statute or executive order.
The attorney general manages legal issues involving public safety, civil rights, and national security. The attorney general also communicates legal concerns to Congress and ensures compliance with federal laws across states. The attorney general's role occasionally evolves through congressional legislation. For example, in 2001, the PATRIOT Act expanded the department's surveillance and investigative authority in matters of terrorism and national security, significantly impacting the scope of the attorney general’s responsibilities. Additional duties include supervising federal penitentiaries and administering the United States Federal Witness Protection Program.

## Presidential transition

It is the practice for the attorney general, along with the other Cabinet secretaries and high-level political appointees of the president, to tender a resignation with effect on the Inauguration Day (January 20) of a new president. The deputy attorney general is also expected to tender a resignation, but is commonly requested to stay on and act as the attorney general pending the confirmation by the Senate of the new attorney general.
For example, upon the inauguration of President Donald Trump on January 20, 2017, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch left her position, so then-Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, who had also tendered her resignation, was asked to stay on to serve as the acting attorney general until the confirmation of the new attorney general Jeff Sessions, who had been nominated for the office in November 2016 by then-President-elect Donald Trump.

## List of attorneys general
### Parties

Federalist (4)  Democratic-Republican (5)  Democratic (34)  Whig (4)  Republican (41)

### Status

| No. | Name | State of residence | Took office | Left office | President(s) |
| 1 | Edmund Randolph | Virginia | September 26, 1789 | January 26, 1794 | George Washington (1789–1797) |
| 2 | William Bradford | Pennsylvania | January 27, 1794 | August 23, 1795 | George Washington (1789–1797) |
| 3 | Charles Lee | Virginia | December 10, 1795 | February 19, 1801 | George Washington (1789–1797) |
| 3 | Charles Lee | Virginia | December 10, 1795 | February 19, 1801 | John Adams (1797–1801) |
| 4 | Levi Lincoln Sr. | Massachusetts | March 5, 1801 | March 2, 1805 | Thomas Jefferson (1801–1809) |
| 5 | John Breckinridge | Kentucky | August 7, 1805 | December 14, 1806 | Thomas Jefferson (1801–1809) |
| 6 | Caesar Augustus Rodney | Delaware | January 20, 1807 | December 10, 1811 | Thomas Jefferson (1801–1809) |
| 6 | Caesar Augustus Rodney | Delaware | January 20, 1807 | December 10, 1811 | James Madison (1809–1817) |
| 7 | William Pinkney | Maryland | December 11, 1811 | February 9, 1814 | James Madison (1809–1817) |
| 8 | Richard Rush | Pennsylvania | February 10, 1814 | November 12, 1817 | James Madison (1809–1817) |
| 9 | William Wirt | Virginia | November 13, 1817 | March 4, 1829 | James Monroe (1817–1825) |
| 9 | William Wirt | Virginia | November 13, 1817 | March 4, 1829 | John Quincy Adams (1825–1829) |
| 10 | John Macpherson Berrien | Georgia | March 9, 1829 | July 19, 1831 | Andrew Jackson (1829–1837) |
| 11 | Roger B. Taney | Maryland | July 20, 1831 | November 14, 1833 | Andrew Jackson (1829–1837) |
| 12 | Benjamin Franklin Butler | New York | November 15, 1833 | July 4, 1838 | Andrew Jackson (1829–1837) |
| 12 | Benjamin Franklin Butler | New York | November 15, 1833 | July 4, 1838 | Martin Van Buren (1837–1841) |
| 13 | Felix Grundy | Tennessee | July 5, 1838 | January 10, 1840 | Martin Van Buren (1837–1841) |
| 14 | Henry D. Gilpin | Pennsylvania | January 11, 1840 | March 4, 1841 | Martin Van Buren (1837–1841) |
| 15 | John J. Crittenden 1st term | Kentucky | March 5, 1841 | September 12, 1841 | William Henry Harrison (1841) |
| 15 | John J. Crittenden 1st term | Kentucky | March 5, 1841 | September 12, 1841 | John Tyler (1841–1845) |
| 16 | Hugh S. Legaré | South Carolina | September 13, 1841 | June 20, 1843 | John Tyler (1841–1845) |
| 17 | John Nelson | Maryland | July 1, 1843 | March 4, 1845 | John Tyler (1841–1845) |
| 18 | John Y. Mason | Virginia | March 5, 1845 | October 16, 1846 | James K. Polk (1845–1849) |
| 19 | Nathan Clifford | Maine | October 17, 1846 | March 17, 1848 | James K. Polk (1845–1849) |
| 20 | Isaac Toucey | Connecticut | June 21, 1848 | March 4, 1849 | James K. Polk (1845–1849) |
| 21 | Reverdy Johnson | Maryland | March 8, 1849 | July 21, 1850 | Zachary Taylor (1849–1850) |
| 22 | John J. Crittenden 2nd term | Kentucky | July 22, 1850 | March 4, 1853 | Millard Fillmore (1850–1853) |
| 23 | Caleb Cushing | Massachusetts | March 7, 1853 | March 4, 1857 | Franklin Pierce (1853–1857) |
| 24 | Jeremiah S. Black | Pennsylvania | March 6, 1857 | December 16, 1860 | James Buchanan (1857–1861) |
| 25 | Edwin Stanton | Pennsylvania | December 20, 1860 | March 4, 1861 | James Buchanan (1857–1861) |
| 26 | Edward Bates | Missouri | March 5, 1861 | November 24, 1864 | Abraham Lincoln (1861–1865) |
| 27 | James Speed | Kentucky | December 2, 1864 | July 22, 1866 | Abraham Lincoln (1861–1865) |
| 27 | James Speed | Kentucky | December 2, 1864 | July 22, 1866 | Andrew Johnson (1865–1869) |
| 28 | Henry Stanbery | Ohio | July 23, 1866 | July 16, 1868 | Andrew Johnson (1865–1869) |
| 29 | William M. Evarts | New York | July 17, 1868 | March 4, 1869 | Andrew Johnson (1865–1869) |
| 30 | Ebenezer R. Hoar | Massachusetts | March 5, 1869 | November 22, 1870 | Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1877) |
| 31 | Amos T. Akerman | Georgia | November 23, 1870 | December 13, 1871 | Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1877) |
| 32 | George Henry Williams | Oregon | December 14, 1871 | April 25, 1875 | Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1877) |
| 33 | Edwards Pierrepont | New York | April 26, 1875 | May 21, 1876 | Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1877) |
| 34 | Alphonso Taft | Ohio | May 22, 1876 | March 4, 1877 | Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1877) |
| 35 | Charles Devens | Massachusetts | March 12, 1877 | March 4, 1881 | Rutherford B. Hayes (1877–1881) |
| 36 | Wayne MacVeagh | Pennsylvania | March 5, 1881 | December 15, 1881 | James A. Garfield (1881) |
| 36 | Wayne MacVeagh | Pennsylvania | March 5, 1881 | December 15, 1881 | Chester A. Arthur (1881–1885) |
| 37 | Benjamin H. Brewster | Pennsylvania | December 16, 1881 | March 4, 1885 | Chester A. Arthur (1881–1885) |
| 38 | Augustus Garland | Arkansas | March 6, 1885 | March 4, 1889 | Grover Cleveland (1885–1889) |
| 39 | William H. H. Miller | Indiana | March 7, 1889 | March 4, 1893 | Benjamin Harrison (1889–1893) |
| 40 | Richard Olney | Massachusetts | March 6, 1893 | April 7, 1895 | Grover Cleveland (1893–1897) |
| 41 | Judson Harmon | Ohio | April 8, 1895 | March 4, 1897 | Grover Cleveland (1893–1897) |
| 42 | Joseph McKenna | California | March 5, 1897 | January 25, 1898 | William McKinley (1897–1901) |
| 43 | John W. Griggs | New Jersey | January 25, 1898 | March 29, 1901 | William McKinley (1897–1901) |
| 44 | Philander C. Knox | Pennsylvania | April 5, 1901 | June 30, 1904 | William McKinley (1897–1901) |
| 44 | Philander C. Knox | Pennsylvania | April 5, 1901 | June 30, 1904 | Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909) |
| 45 | William Henry Moody | Massachusetts | July 1, 1904 | December 17, 1906 | Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909) |
| 46 | Charles Bonaparte | Maryland | December 17, 1906 | March 4, 1909 | Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909) |
| 47 | George W. Wickersham | New York | March 4, 1909 | March 4, 1913 | William Howard Taft (1909–1913) |
| 48 | James McReynolds | Tennessee | March 5, 1913 | August 29, 1914 | Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921) |
| 49 | Thomas Watt Gregory | Texas | August 29, 1914 | March 4, 1919 | Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921) |
| 50 | A. Mitchell Palmer | Pennsylvania | March 5, 1919 | March 4, 1921 | Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921) |
| 51 | Harry M. Daugherty | Ohio | March 4, 1921 | April 6, 1924 | Warren G. Harding (1921–1923) |
| 51 | Harry M. Daugherty | Ohio | March 4, 1921 | April 6, 1924 | Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929) |
| 52 | Harlan F. Stone | New York | April 7, 1924 | March 1, 1925 | Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929) |
| 53 | John G. Sargent | Vermont | March 7, 1925 | March 4, 1929 | Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929) |
| 54 | William D. Mitchell | Minnesota | March 4, 1929 | March 4, 1933 | Herbert Hoover (1929–1933) |
| 55 | Homer Stille Cummings | Connecticut | March 4, 1933 | January 1, 1939 | Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945) |
| 56 | Frank Murphy | Michigan | January 2, 1939 | January 18, 1940 | Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945) |
| 57 | Robert H. Jackson | New York | January 18, 1940 | August 25, 1941 | Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945) |
| 58 | Francis Biddle | Pennsylvania | August 26, 1941 | June 26, 1945 | Harry S. Truman (1945–1953) |
| 59 | Tom C. Clark | Texas | June 27, 1945 | July 26, 1949 | Harry S. Truman (1945–1953) |
| 60 | J. Howard McGrath | Rhode Island | July 27, 1949 | April 3, 1952 | Harry S. Truman (1945–1953) |
| 61 | James P. McGranery | Pennsylvania | April 4, 1952 | January 20, 1953 | Harry S. Truman (1945–1953) |
| 62 | Herbert Brownell Jr. | New York | January 21, 1953 | October 23, 1957 | Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961) |
| 63 | William P. Rogers | New York | October 23, 1957 | January 20, 1961 | Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961) |
| 64 | Robert F. Kennedy | Massachusetts | January 20, 1961 | September 3, 1964 | John F. Kennedy (1961–1963) |
| 64 | Robert F. Kennedy | Massachusetts | January 20, 1961 | September 3, 1964 | Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969) |
| 65 | Nicholas Katzenbach | Illinois | September 4, 1964 | January 28, 1965 | Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969) |
| 65 | Nicholas Katzenbach | Illinois | January 28, 1965 | November 28, 1966 | Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969) |
| 66 | Ramsey Clark | Texas | November 28, 1966 | March 10, 1967 | Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969) |
| 66 | Ramsey Clark | Texas | March 10, 1967 | January 20, 1969 | Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969) |
| 67 | John N. Mitchell | New York | January 20, 1969 | February 15, 1972 | Richard Nixon (1969–1974) |
| 68 | Richard Kleindienst | Arizona | February 15, 1972 | April 30, 1973 | Richard Nixon (1969–1974) |
| 69 | Elliot Richardson | Massachusetts | May 25, 1973 | October 20, 1973 | Richard Nixon (1969–1974) |
| – | Robert Bork Acting | Pennsylvania | October 20, 1973 | January 4, 1974 | Richard Nixon (1969–1974) |
| 70 | William B. Saxbe | Ohio | January 4, 1974 | February 2, 1975 | Richard Nixon (1969–1974) |
| 70 | William B. Saxbe | Ohio | January 4, 1974 | February 2, 1975 | Gerald Ford (1974–1977) |
| 71 | Edward H. Levi | Illinois | February 2, 1975 | January 20, 1977 | Gerald Ford (1974–1977) |
| – | Dick Thornburgh Acting | Pennsylvania | January 20, 1977 | January 26, 1977 | Jimmy Carter (1977–1981) |
| 72 | Griffin Bell | Georgia | January 26, 1977 | August 16, 1979 | Jimmy Carter (1977–1981) |
| 73 | Benjamin Civiletti | Maryland | August 16, 1979 | January 19, 1981 | Jimmy Carter (1977–1981) |
| 74 | William French Smith | California | January 23, 1981 | February 25, 1985 | Ronald Reagan (1981–1989) |
| 75 | Edwin Meese | California | February 25, 1985 | August 12, 1988 | Ronald Reagan (1981–1989) |
| 76 | Dick Thornburgh | Pennsylvania | August 12, 1988 | August 15, 1991 | Ronald Reagan (1981–1989) |
| 76 | Dick Thornburgh | Pennsylvania | August 12, 1988 | August 15, 1991 | George H. W. Bush (1989–1993) |
| 77 | William Barr 1st term | Virginia | August 16, 1991 | November 26, 1991 | George H. W. Bush (1989–1993) |
| 77 | William Barr 1st term | Virginia | November 26, 1991 | January 20, 1993 | George H. W. Bush (1989–1993) |
| – | Stuart M. Gerson Acting | Washington, D.C. | January 20, 1993 | March 12, 1993 | Bill Clinton (1993–2001) |
| 78 | Janet Reno | Florida | March 12, 1993 | January 20, 2001 | Bill Clinton (1993–2001) |
| – | Eric Holder Acting | Washington, D.C. | January 20, 2001 | February 2, 2001 | George W. Bush (2001–2009) |
| 79 | John Ashcroft | Missouri | February 2, 2001 | February 3, 2005 | George W. Bush (2001–2009) |
| 80 | Alberto Gonzales | Texas | February 3, 2005 | September 17, 2007 | George W. Bush (2001–2009) |
| – | Paul Clement Acting | Washington, D.C. | September 17, 2007 | September 18, 2007 | George W. Bush (2001–2009) |
| – | Peter Keisler Acting | Washington, D.C. | September 18, 2007 | November 9, 2007 | George W. Bush (2001–2009) |
| 81 | Michael Mukasey | New York | November 9, 2007 | January 20, 2009 | George W. Bush (2001–2009) |
| – | Mark Filip Acting | Illinois | January 20, 2009 | February 3, 2009 | Barack Obama (2009–2017) |
| 82 | Eric Holder | Washington, D.C. | February 3, 2009 | April 27, 2015 | Barack Obama (2009–2017) |
| 83 | Loretta Lynch | New York | April 27, 2015 | January 20, 2017 | Barack Obama (2009–2017) |
| – | Sally Yates Acting | Georgia | January 20, 2017 | January 30, 2017 | Donald Trump (2017–2021) |
| – | Dana Boente Acting | Virginia | January 30, 2017 | February 9, 2017 | Donald Trump (2017–2021) |
| 84 | Jeff Sessions | Alabama | February 9, 2017 | November 7, 2018 | Donald Trump (2017–2021) |
| – | Rod Rosenstein Acting | Maryland | November 7, 2018 | November 7, 2018 | Donald Trump (2017–2021) |
| – | Matthew Whitaker Acting | Iowa | November 7, 2018 | February 14, 2019 | Donald Trump (2017–2021) |
| 85 | William Barr 2nd term | Virginia | February 14, 2019 | December 23, 2020 | Donald Trump (2017–2021) |
| – | Jeffrey A. Rosen Acting | Massachusetts | December 24, 2020 | January 20, 2021 | Donald Trump (2017–2021) |
| – | John Demers Acting | Massachusetts | January 20, 2021 | January 20, 2021 | Joe Biden (2021–2025) |
| – | Monty Wilkinson Acting | Washington, D.C. | January 20, 2021 | March 11, 2021 | Joe Biden (2021–2025) |
| 86 | Merrick Garland | Maryland | March 11, 2021 | January 20, 2025 | Joe Biden (2021–2025) |
| – | James McHenry Acting | Washington, D.C. | January 20, 2025 | February 5, 2025 | Donald Trump (2025–present) |
| 87 | Pam Bondi | Florida | February 5, 2025 | Incumbent | Donald Trump (2025–present) |

## Line of succession

28 U.S.C. § 508 establishes the first two positions in the line of succession, while allowing the attorney general to designate other high-ranking officers of the Department of Justice as subsequent successors. Furthermore, an Executive Order defines subsequent positions, the most recent from March 31, 2017, signed by President Donald Trump. The current line of succession is:
* United States Deputy Attorney General
* United States Associate Attorney General
* Other officers potentially designated by the attorney general (in no particular order):
** Solicitor General of the United States
** Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division
** Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division
** Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division
** Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division
** Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division
** Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division
** Assistant Attorney General, Justice Management Division
** Assistant Attorney General, Tax Division
** Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs
** Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel
** Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy
** Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legislative Affairs
* United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia
* United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina
* United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas

## Notable figures

* First Italian American male: Charles Joseph Bonaparte in 1906
* First Jewish American male: Edward H. Levi in 1975
* First female: Janet Reno in 1993
* First Hispanic American male: Alberto Gonzales in 2005
* First African American male: Eric Holder in 2009
* First African American female: Loretta Lynch in 2015