What's on the Ballot? The State Attorney General

In the lead up to the midterm elections we’ll be taking some time to break down the key roles and responsibilities of the various offices voters will see on their ballot. This weekend we’re featuring the state attorney general. 

What does the Attorney General do?
The attorney general is the head of the state Department of Justice. They also provide legal advice and representation for state agencies and all three branches of government. The state attorney general serves on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. 

Why does this matter?

As the chief law officer of the state of Wisconsin, the state attorney general directs and supervises the Wisconsin Department of Justice. State attorney general determines the priorities of state law enforcement. 

As a member of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands, the state attorney general plays a key role in managing the state’s remaining trust lands (more than 77,000 acres of forest), managing trust funds (more than $1 billion) primarily for the benefit of public school libraries (these funds are the sole source of state funding for public school libraries), and maintains the state’s archive of 19th-century land survey and land sales records.