Editing United States Attorney General

{{Short description|Head of the US Department of Justice}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = United States Attorney General
| flag = Flag of the United States Attorney General.svg
| flagborder = yes
| flagsize = 125
| flagcaption = Flag of the United States attorney general
| insignia = Seal of the United States Department of Justice.svg
| insigniasize = 125
| insigniacaption = Seal of the Department of Justice
| image = EW.png
| incumbent = [[Elizabeth Wilborn]]
| acting =
| incumbentsince = January 12th, 2025
| department = [[United States Department of Justice]]
| style = Madam Attorney General (informal)<br>[[The Honourable#United States|The Honorable]] (formal)
| member_of = [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]]<br>[[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]]<br>[[United States Homeland Security Council|Homeland Security Council]]
| reports_to = [[President of the United States|President]]
| seat = [[Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building]]<br>[[Washington, D.C.]]
| appointer = [[President of the United States|President]]
| appointer_qualified = with [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[advice and consent]]
| termlength = No fixed term
| constituting_instrument = {{usc|28|503}}
| formation = September 26, 1789
| first = [[Edmund Randolph]]
| succession = [[United States presidential line of succession|Seventh]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/19|title=3 U.S. Code § 19 – Vacancy in offices of both President and Vice President; officers eligible to act|access-date=November 7, 2018|archive-date=December 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226123834/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/19|url-status=live}}</ref>
| deputy = [[United States Deputy Attorney General|Deputy Attorney General]]
| salary = [[Executive Schedule|Executive Schedule, Level{{spaces}}I]]<ref name="UnitedStatesCode|5|5312">{{UnitedStatesCode|5|5312}}.</ref>
| website = {{URL|www.justice.gov/ag}}
}}
The '''United States attorney general''' ('''AG''') is the head of the [[United States Department of Justice]] (DOJ) and is the chief law enforcement officer of the [[federal government of the United States]]. The attorney general serves as the principal advisor to the [[president of the United States]] on all legal matters. The attorney general is a statutory member of the [[Cabinet of the United States]].

Under the [[Appointments Clause]] of the [[United States Constitution]], the officeholder is nominated by the president of the United States, then appointed with the [[advice and consent]] of the [[United States Senate]]. The attorney general is supported by the Office of the Attorney General, which includes executive staff and several deputies

== Name ==
The title, "attorney general" is an example of a noun (''attorney'') followed by a [[postpositive adjective]] (''general'').<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Herz |first=Michael |date=2002 |title=Washington, Patton, Schwarzkopf and ... Ashcroft? |url=https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/concomm/771 |journal=Constitutional Commentary |access-date=May 31, 2019 |archive-date=May 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531193854/https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/concomm/771/ |url-status=live }}</ref> "General" is a description of the type of attorney, not a title or rank in itself ([[General officer|as it would be in the military]]).<ref name=":1" /> Even though the attorney general (and the similarly titled [[Solicitor General of the United States|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.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Garner |first=Bryan A. |title=LawProse Lesson #116: What's the plural form of attorney general? And what is the plural possessive? |url=https://abovethelaw.com/career-files/lawprose-lesson-116-whats-the-plural-form-of-attorney-general-and-what-is-the-plural-possessive/ |access-date=May 31, 2019 |website=Above the Law |date=May 2013 |language=en-US}}</ref> For the same reason, the correct American English plural form is "attorneys general" rather than "attorney generals".<ref name=":2" />

==History==
{{see also|United States Department of Justice#History}}
[[File:Seal of the United States Department of Justice.svg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|Seal of the Department of Justice]]

[[United States Congress|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 of the United States|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".<ref>[[Judiciary Act of 1789]], section 35.</ref> Some of these duties have since been transferred to the [[United States Solicitor General|United States solicitor general]] and the [[White House Counsel|White House counsel]].

The [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] was established in 1870 to support the attorneys general in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The [[United States Secretary of State|secretary of state]], the [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|secretary of the treasury]], the [[United States Secretary of Defense|secretary of defense]], and the attorney general are regarded as the four most important [[Cabinet of the United States|Cabinet]] officials in the United States because of the size and importance of their respective departments.<ref>''Cabinets and Counselors: The President and the Executive Branch'' (1997). [[Congressional Quarterly]]. p. 87.</ref>

Attorney General is a [[Executive Schedule#Level I|Level{{spaces}}I position in the Executive Schedule]],<ref name="UnitedStatesCode|5|5312"/> thus earning a salary of [[US Dollar|US$]]221,400, as of January 2021.<ref name="Salary">{{Cite web|url=https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2021/EX.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123013351/https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2021/EX.pdf |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Salary Table No. 2021-EX Rates of Basic Pay for the Executive Schedule (EX)}}</ref>

==Presidential transition==
It is the practice for the attorney general, along with the other Cabinet secretaries and high-level [[Political appointments in the United States|political appointees of the president]], to tender a resignation with effect on the [[United States presidential inauguration|Inauguration Day]] (January 20) of a new president. The [[United States Deputy Attorney General|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 [[Advice and consent#United States|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 of the United States|President-elect]] Donald Trump.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-us-attorneys-233740 |title=Trump will allow U.S. attorneys to stay past Friday |date=January 17, 2017 |last=Gerstein |first=Josh |website=POLITICO |language=en |access-date=July 25, 2019 |archive-date=July 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725210502/https://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-us-attorneys-233740 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Efn|Unusually for a transitional acting appointment, Yates was dismissed and replaced with another Acting Attorney General before Sessions was confirmed because she refused to defend an [[executive order]] of the incoming administration.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/meet-the-acting-attorney-general-fired-by-trump-and-accused-of-betraying-the-justice-department/2017/01/30/05d4478c-e750-11e6-80c2-30e57e57e05d_story.html|title=Who is Sally Yates? Meet the acting attorney general Trump fired for 'betraying' the Justice Department|last=Horwitz|first=Sari|date=January 30, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=July 25, 2019|archive-date=November 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129112033/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/meet-the-acting-attorney-general-fired-by-trump-and-accused-of-betraying-the-justice-department/2017/01/30/05d4478c-e750-11e6-80c2-30e57e57e05d_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>|name=|group=}}

==List of attorneys general==
[[File:Flag of the United States Attorney General.svg|thumb|upright=0.7|Flag of the United States attorney general]]

===Parties===
{{legend2|{{party color|Federalist Party (United States)}}|[[Federalist Party|Federalist]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} (4)
{{legend2|{{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}}|[[Democratic-Republican Party|Democratic-Republican]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} (5)
{{legend2|{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} (34)
{{legend2|{{party color|Whig Party (United States)}}|[[Whig Party (United States)|Whig]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} (4)
{{legend2|{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} (40)

===Status===
{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes service as [[Acting (law)|acting]] attorneys general before appointment or after resignation|border=black}}

{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" style="clear:right; text-align:center"
!No.
!class=unsortable |Portrait
!Name
!State of residence
!Took office
!Left office
!colspan=2 |[[President of the United States|President(s)]]
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Federalist Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|1}}
|[[File:EdRand.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Edmund|Randolph}}
|[[Virginia]]
|{{dts|September 26, 1789}}
|{{dts|January 26, 1794}}
!rowspan=3 style="background: {{Party shading/None}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|George|Washington}}<br>(1789–1797)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Federalist Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|2}}
|[[File:William Bradford, AG.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|William|Bradford|dab=Attorney General}}
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|{{dts|January 27, 1794}}
|{{dts|August 23, 1795}}
|-
! style="background: {{party color|Federalist Party (United States)}};" rowspan=2 |{{color|white|3}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Charles Lee, AG.png|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Charles|Lee|dab=Attorney General}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Virginia]]
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|December 10, 1795}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|February 19, 1801}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Federalist Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|John|Adams}}<br>(1797–1801)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|4}}
|[[File:Levi Lincoln, Sr.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Levi|Lincoln Sr.}}
|[[Massachusetts]]
|{{dts|March 5, 1801}}
|{{dts|March 2, 1805}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Thomas|Jefferson}}<br>(1801–1809)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|5}}
|[[File:John Breckinridge.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|John|Breckinridge|dab=U.S. Attorney General}}
|[[Kentucky]]
|{{dts|August 7, 1805}}
|{{dts|December 14, 1806}}
|-
!rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|6}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Rodneycaesara3.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Caesar Augustus|Rodney}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Delaware]]
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|January 20, 1807}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|December 10, 1811}}
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|James|Madison}}<br>(1809–1817)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|7}}
|[[File:Williampinkney (1).jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|William|Pinkney}}
|[[Maryland]]
|{{dts|December 11, 1811}}
|{{dts|February 9, 1814}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Federalist Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|8}}
|[[File:Richard Rush engraving.png|75px]]
|{{sortname|Richard|Rush}}
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|{{dts|February 10, 1814}}
|{{dts|November 12, 1817}}
|-
!rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|9}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Attorney General William Wirt.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|William|Wirt|dab=Attorney General}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Virginia]]
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|November 13, 1817}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|March 4, 1829}}
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|James|Monroe}}<br>(1817–1825)
|-
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic-Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|John Quincy|Adams}}<br>(1825–1829)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|10}}
|[[File:John Macpherson Berrien, portrait by John Maier.png|75px]]
|{{sortname|John Macpherson|Berrien}}
|[[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|{{dts|March 9, 1829}}
|{{dts|July 19, 1831}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Andrew|Jackson}}<br>(1829–1837)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|11}}
|[[File:Roger Taney.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Roger B.|Taney}}
|[[Maryland]]
|{{dts|July 20, 1831}}
|{{dts|November 14, 1833}}
|-
!rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|12}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Chester Harding - Benjamin Franklin Butler - 1963.172 - Dallas Museum of Art.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Benjamin Franklin|Butler|dab=lawyer}}
|rowspan=2 |[[New York (state)|New York]]
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|November 15, 1833}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|July 4, 1838}}
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Martin|Van Buren}}<br>(1837–1841)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|13}}
|[[File:Felix Grundy.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Felix|Grundy}}
|[[Tennessee]]
|{{dts|July 5, 1838}}
|{{dts|January 10, 1840}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|14}}
|[[File:Henry D. Gilpin, Attorney General of the United States (trimmed).jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Henry D.|Gilpin}}
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|{{dts|January 11, 1840}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1841}}
|-
!rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Whig Party (United States)}};" |15
|rowspan=2 |[[File:John Jordan Crittenden - Brady 1855.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|John J.|Crittenden}}<br>{{small|''1st term''}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Kentucky]]
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|March 5, 1841}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|September 12, 1841}}
|style="background: {{party color|Whig Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|William Henry|Harrison}}<br>(1841)
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Whig Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|John|Tyler}}<br>(1841–1845)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|16}}
|[[File:Hugh S. Legaré.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Hugh S.|Legaré}}
|[[South Carolina]]
|{{dts|September 13, 1841}}
|{{dts|June 20, 1843}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Whig Party (United States)}};" |17
|[[File:John Nelson, bw photo portrait, Brady-Handy collection, circa 1855-1865.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|John|Nelson|dab=lawyer}}
|[[Maryland]]
|{{dts|July 1, 1843}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1845}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|18}}
|[[File:JYMason.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|John Y.|Mason}}
|[[Virginia]]
|{{dts|March 5, 1845}}
|{{dts|October 16, 1846}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|James K.|Polk}}<br>(1845–1849)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|19}}
|[[File:NClifford.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Nathan|Clifford}}
|[[Maine]]
|{{dts|October 17, 1846}}
|{{dts|March 17, 1848}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|20}}
|[[File:Isaac Toucey - Brady-Handy.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Isaac|Toucey}}
|[[Connecticut]]
|{{dts|June 21, 1848}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1849}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Whig Party (United States)}};" |21
|[[File:Reverdy Johnson.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Reverdy|Johnson}}
|[[Maryland]]
|{{dts|March 8, 1849}}
|{{dts|July 21, 1850}}
|style="background: {{party color|Whig Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Zachary|Taylor}}<br>(1849–1850)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Whig Party (United States)}};" |22
|[[File:John Jordan Crittenden - Brady 1855.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|John J.|Crittenden}}<br>{{small|''2nd term''}}
|[[Kentucky]]
|{{dts|July 22, 1850}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1853}}
|style="background: {{party color|Whig Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Millard|Fillmore}}<br>(1850–1853)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|23}}
|[[File:Caleb Cushing.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Caleb|Cushing}}
|[[Massachusetts]]
|{{dts|March 7, 1853}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1857}}
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Franklin|Pierce}}<br>(1853–1857)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|24}}
|[[File:JSBlack-AG.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Jeremiah S.|Black}}
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|{{dts|March 6, 1857}}
|{{dts|December 16, 1860}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|James|Buchanan}}<br>(1857–1861)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|25}}
|[[File:Edwin McMasters Stanton Secretary of War.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Edwin|Stanton}}
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|{{dts|December 20, 1860}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1861}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|26}}
|[[File:Edward Bates - Brady-Handy.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Edward|Bates}}
|[[Missouri]]
|{{dts|March 5, 1861}}
|{{dts|November 24, 1864}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Abraham|Lincoln}}<br>(1861–1865)
|-
!rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|27}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:James Speed.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|James|Speed}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Kentucky]]
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|December 2, 1864}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|July 22, 1866}}
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Andrew|Johnson}}<br>(1865–1869)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|28}}
|[[File:Stanberry-AttorGen.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Henry|Stanbery}}
|[[Ohio]]
|{{dts|July 23, 1866}}
|{{dts|July 16, 1868}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|29}}
|[[File:William M. Evarts - Brady-Handy.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|William M.|Evarts}}
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|{{dts|July 17, 1868}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1869}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|30}}
|[[File:EbenezerRHoar.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Ebenezer R.|Hoar}}
|[[Massachusetts]]
|{{dts|March 5, 1869}}
|{{dts|November 22, 1870}}
|rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=5 |{{sortname|Ulysses S.|Grant}}<br>(1869–1877)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|31}}
|[[File:Amos T Akerman - crop and minor retouch.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Amos T.|Akerman}}
|[[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|{{dts|November 23, 1870}}
|{{dts|December 13, 1871}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|32}}
|[[File:George Henry Williams - Brady-Handy - Restored & Cropped.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|George Henry|Williams}}
|[[Oregon]]
|{{dts|December 14, 1871}}
|{{dts|April 25, 1875}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|33}}
|[[File:Edwards Pierrepont, Brady-Handy bw photo portrait, ca1865-1880.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Edwards|Pierrepont}}
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|{{dts|April 26, 1875}}
|{{dts|May 21, 1876}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|34}}
|[[File:Alphonso Taft seated.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Alphonso|Taft}}
|[[Ohio]]
|{{dts|May 22, 1876}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1877}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|35}}
|[[File:Hon. Charles Devens of Mass. Atty Gen. Hayes Cabinet.png|75px]]
|{{sortname|Charles|Devens}}
|[[Massachusetts]]
|{{dts|March 12, 1877}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1881}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Rutherford B.|Hayes}}<br>(1877–1881)
|-
!rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|36}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Wayne MacVeagh - Brady-Handy.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Wayne|MacVeagh}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Pennsylvania]]
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|March 5, 1881}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|December 15, 1881}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|James A.|Garfield}}<br>(1881)
|-
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Chester A.|Arthur}}<br>(1881–1885)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|37}}
|[[File:BenjaminHBrewster.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Benjamin H.|Brewster}}
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|{{dts|December 16, 1881}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1885}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|38}}
|[[File:Augustus Hill Garland - Brady-Handy.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Augustus|Garland|Augustus Hill Garland}}
|[[Arkansas]]
|{{dts|March 6, 1885}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1889}}
|style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Grover|Cleveland}}<br>(1885–1889)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|39}}
|[[File:WHHMiller.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|William H. H.|Miller}}
|[[Indiana]]
|{{dts|March 7, 1889}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1893}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Benjamin|Harrison}}<br>(1889–1893)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|40}}
|[[File:Richard Olney, Bain bw photo portrait, 1913.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Richard|Olney}}
|[[Massachusetts]]
|{{dts|March 6, 1893}}
|{{dts|April 7, 1895}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Grover|Cleveland}}<br>(1893–1897)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|41}}
|[[File:Jud Harmon.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Judson|Harmon}}
|[[Ohio]]
|{{dts|April 8, 1895}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1897}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|42}}
|[[File:AssoJstcJMcK.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Joseph|McKenna}}
|[[California]]
|{{dts|March 5, 1897}}
|{{dts|January 25, 1898}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|William|McKinley}}<br>(1897–1901)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|43}}
|[[File:Griggs2.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|John W.|Griggs}}
|[[New Jersey]]
|{{dts|January 25, 1898}}
|{{dts|March 29, 1901}}
|-
!rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|44}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Philander Knox, bw photo portrait, 1904.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Philander C.|Knox}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Pennsylvania]]
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|April 5, 1901}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|June 30, 1904}}
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Theodore|Roosevelt}}<br>(1901–1909)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|45}}
|[[File:WHMoody.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|William Henry|Moody}}
|[[Massachusetts]]
|{{dts|July 1, 1904}}
|{{dts|December 17, 1906}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|46}}
|[[File:CJBonaparte.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Charles|Bonaparte|Charles Joseph Bonaparte}}
|[[Maryland]]
|{{dts|December 17, 1906}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1909}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|47}}
|[[File:GWWickersham.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|George W.|Wickersham}}
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|{{dts|March 4, 1909}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1913}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|William Howard|Taft}}<br>(1909–1913)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|48}}
|[[File:James C. McReynolds - c1913.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|James|McReynolds|James Clark McReynolds}}
|[[Tennessee]]
|{{dts|March 5, 1913}}
|{{dts|August 29, 1914}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Woodrow|Wilson}}<br>(1913–1921)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|49}}
|[[File:WP Thomas Watt Gregory.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Thomas Watt|Gregory}}
|[[Texas]]
|{{dts|August 29, 1914}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1919}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|50}}
|[[File:Alexander Mitchell Palmer.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|A. Mitchell|Palmer}}
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|{{dts|March 5, 1919}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1921}}
|-
!rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|51}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Harry Daugherty, bw photo portrait 1920.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Harry M.|Daugherty}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Ohio]]
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|March 4, 1921}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|April 6, 1924}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Warren G.|Harding}}<br>(1921–1923)
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Calvin|Coolidge}}<br>(1923–1929)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|52}}
|[[File:Chief Justice Harlan Fiske Stone photograph circa 1927-1932.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Harlan F.|Stone}}
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|{{dts|April 7, 1924}}
|{{dts|March 1, 1925}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|53}}
|[[File:John Sargent, Bain bw photo portrait.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|John G.|Sargent}}
|[[Vermont]]
|{{dts|March 7, 1925}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1929}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|54}}
|[[File:William D. Mitchell cph.3b30394.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|William D.|Mitchell}}
|[[Minnesota]]
|{{dts|March 4, 1929}}
|{{dts|March 4, 1933}}
|style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|Herbert|Hoover}}<br>(1929–1933)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|55}}
|[[File:Homer Cummings, Harris & Ewing photo portrait, 1920.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Homer Stille|Cummings}}
|[[Connecticut]]
|{{dts|March 4, 1933}}
|{{dts|January 1, 1939}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Franklin D.|Roosevelt}}<br>(1933–1945)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|56}}
|[[File:Justice Frank Murphy.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Frank|Murphy}}
|[[Michigan]]
|{{dts|January 2, 1939}}
|{{dts|January 18, 1940}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|57}}
|[[File:Roberthjackson.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Robert H.|Jackson}}
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|{{dts|January 18, 1940}}
|{{dts|August 25, 1941}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|58}}
|[[File:Francis Biddle cph.3b27524.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Francis|Biddle}}
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|{{dts|August 26, 1941}}
|{{dts|June 26, 1945}}
|rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=4 |{{sortname|Harry S.|Truman}}<br>(1945–1953)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|59}}
|[[File:Official portrait of Associate Justice Tom C. Clark, Supreme Court of the United States (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Tom C.|Clark}}
|[[Texas]]
|{{dts|June 27, 1945}}
|{{dts|July 26, 1949}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|60}}
|[[File:J. Howard McGrath.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|J. Howard|McGrath}}
|[[Rhode Island]]
|{{dts|July 27, 1949}}
|{{dts|April 3, 1952}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|61}}
|[[File:James P McGranery cropped.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|James P.|McGranery}}
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|{{dts|April 4, 1952}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1953}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|62}}
|[[File:Herbert Brownell.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Herbert|Brownell Jr.}}
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|{{dts|January 21, 1953}}
|{{dts|October 23, 1957}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Dwight D.|Eisenhower}}<br>(1953–1961)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|63}}
|[[File:William P. Rogers, U.S. Secretary of State.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|William P.|Rogers}}
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|{{dts|October 23, 1957}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1961}}
|-
! style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" rowspan=2 |{{color|white|64}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Bobby Kennedy - restored.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Robert F.|Kennedy}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Massachusetts]]
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|January 20, 1961}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|September 3, 1964}}
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|{{sortname|John F.|Kennedy}}<br>(1961–1963)
|-
!rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=5 |{{sortname|Lyndon B.|Johnson}}<br>(1963–1969)
|-
!rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|65}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Nicholas Katzenbach at White House, 6 May 1968.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Nicholas|Katzenbach}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Illinois]]
|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" |{{dts|September 4, 1964}}{{efn |name=dag-self|Served as acting attorney general in his capacity as [[United States Deputy Attorney General|deputy attorney general]], until his own appointment and confirmation as attorney general.}}
|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" |{{dts|January 28, 1965}}
|-
|{{dts|January 28, 1965}}
|{{dts|November 28, 1966}}
|-
!rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|66}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Ramsey Clark at the White House, 28 Feb 1968.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Ramsey|Clark}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Texas]]
|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" |{{dts|November 28, 1966}}{{efn |name=dag-self}}
|bgcolor="#e6e6aa" |{{dts|March 10, 1967}}
|-
|{{dts|March 10, 1967}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1969}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|67}}
|[[File:John Mitchell.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|John N.|Mitchell}}
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|{{dts|January 20, 1969}}
|{{dts|February 15, 1972}}
|rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=5 |{{sortname|Richard|Nixon}}<br>(1969–1974)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|68}}
|[[File:Attorney General Richard Kleindienst.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Richard|Kleindienst}}
|[[Arizona]]
|{{dts|February 15, 1972}}
|{{dts|April 30, 1973}}<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/3-top-nixon-aides-kleindienst-out-president-accepts-full-responsibility-richardson-will-conduct-new-probe/2012/06/04/gJQAx7oFJV_story.html |title=3 Top Nixon Aides, Kleindienst Out; President Accepts Full Responsibility; Richardson Will Conduct New Probe |last1=Stern |first1=Laurence |date=May 1, 1973 |work=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=February 28, 2019 |last2=Johnson |first2=Haynes |archive-date=March 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301074640/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/3-top-nixon-aides-kleindienst-out-president-accepts-full-responsibility-richardson-will-conduct-new-probe/2012/06/04/gJQAx7oFJV_story.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|69}}
|[[File:ElliotLeeRichardson.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Elliot|Richardson}}
|[[Massachusetts]]
|{{dts|May 25, 1973}}<ref name=":0"/>
|{{dts|October 20, 1973}}
|- bgcolor="#E6E6AA"
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|[[File:Robert Bork.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Robert|Bork}}{{efn |On October 20, 1973, [[United States Solicitor General|Solicitor General]] [[Robert Bork]] became acting attorney general following the "[[Saturday Night Massacre]]", in which [[U.S. Attorney General]] [[Elliot Richardson]] and [[United States Deputy Attorney General|Deputy Attorney General]] [[William Ruckelshaus]] both resigned.}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|{{dts|October 20, 1973}}
|{{dts|January 4, 1974}}
|-
!rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|70}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:WilliamBartSaxbe2.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|William B.|Saxbe}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Ohio]]
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|January 4, 1974}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|February 2, 1975}}
|-
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Gerald|Ford}}<br>(1974–1977)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|71}}
|[[File:Edward Levi Attorney General.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Edward H.|Levi}}
|[[Illinois]]
|{{dts|February 2, 1975}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1977}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[File:Dick Thornburgh.jpg|75px]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{sortname|Dick|Thornburgh}}{{efn |Served as acting attorney general in his capacity as [[United States Deputy Attorney General|deputy attorney general]], until the appointment of a new attorney general. Thornburgh later served as attorney general from 1988–1991.}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[Pennsylvania]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|January 20, 1977}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|January 26, 1977}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Jimmy|Carter}}<br>(1977–1981)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|72}}
|[[File:Griffin Bell -uglaw AG72 (cropped).tif|75px]]
|{{sortname|Griffin|Bell}}
|[[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|{{dts|January 26, 1977}}
|{{dts|August 16, 1979}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|73}}
|[[File:Benjamin Civiletti (1979).jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Benjamin|Civiletti}}
|[[Maryland]]
|{{dts|August 16, 1979}}
|{{dts|January 19, 1981}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|74}}
|[[File:Portrait officiel de William French Smith.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|William French|Smith}}
|[[California]]
|{{dts|January 23, 1981}}
|{{dts|February 25, 1985}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Ronald|Reagan}}<br>(1981–1989)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|75}}
|[[File:Edwin Meese III Attorney General portrait (cropped1).jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Edwin|Meese}}
|[[California]]
|{{dts|February 25, 1985}}
|{{dts|August 12, 1988}}
|-
!rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|76}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:Dick Thornburgh.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Dick|Thornburgh}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Pennsylvania]]
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|August 12, 1988}}
|rowspan=2 |{{dts|August 15, 1991}}
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|George H. W.|Bush}}<br>(1989–1993)
|-
!rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|77}}
|rowspan=2 |[[File:William Barr, official photo as Attorney General.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|William|Barr}}<br>{{small|''1st term''}}
|rowspan=2 |[[Virginia]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|August 16, 1991}}{{efn |name=dag-self}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|November 26, 1991}}
|-
|{{dts|November 26, 1991}}
|{{dts|January 20, 1993}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{sortname|Stuart M.|Gerson}}{{efn |Served as acting attorney general in his capacity as [[United States Assistant Attorney General|Assistant Attorney General]] for the [[United States Department of Justice Civil Division|DOJ Civil Division]].<ref name=shot>{{cite web |author=Staff reporter |title=Stuart Gerson's Parting Shot |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 21, 1993 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE1DE1331F932A15751C0A965958260 |access-date=December 12, 2008 |quote=As supporters of the Brady gun-control bill prepare to introduce it in Congress yet again this week, they find a welcome, if unlikely, ally in Stuart Gerson, the Acting Attorney General. Because President Clinton has had so many problems finding a new Attorney General, Mr. Gerson remains in office{{spaces}}...}}</ref> Gerson was fourth in the line of succession at the Justice Department, but other senior DOJ officials had already resigned.<ref name=nyt>{{cite web |author=Labaton, Stephen |title=Notes on Justice; Who's in Charge? Bush Holdover Says He Is, but Two Clinton Men Differ |work=The New York Times |date=January 25, 1993 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE3DF1F38F936A15752C0A965958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |access-date=December 12, 2008}}</ref> [[Janet Reno]], President Clinton's nominee for attorney general, was confirmed on March 12,<ref name=reno>{{cite web |author=Ifill, Gwen |title=Reno Confirmed in Top Justice Job |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 12, 1993 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CEED71130F931A25750C0A965958260 |access-date=December 12, 2008 |quote=She will replace Acting Attorney General Stuart M. Gerson, a holdover appointee from the Bush Administration. Ms. Reno said he resigned today.}}</ref> and he resigned the same day.<ref name=reno/>}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[Washington, D.C.]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|January 20, 1993}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|March 12, 1993}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Bill|Clinton}}<br>(1993–2001)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|78}}
|[[File:Janet Reno-us-Portrait.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Janet|Reno}}
|[[Florida]]
|{{dts|March 12, 1993}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2001}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[File:HolderEric.jpg|75px]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{sortname|Eric|Holder}}{{efn |Served as acting attorney general in his capacity as [[United States Deputy Attorney General|deputy attorney general]], until the appointment of a new attorney general. Holder later served as attorney general from 2009–2015.}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[Washington, D.C.]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|January 20, 2001}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|February 2, 2001}}
|rowspan=6 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=6 |{{sortname|George W.|Bush}}<br>(2001–2009)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|79}}
|[[File:John Ashcroft.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|John|Ashcroft}}
|[[Missouri]]
|{{dts|February 2, 2001}}
|{{dts|February 3, 2005}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|80}}
|[[File:Alberto Gonzales - official DoJ photograph.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Alberto|Gonzales}}
|[[Texas]]
|{{dts|February 3, 2005}}
|{{dts|September 17, 2007}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[File:Paul D. Clement.jpg|75px]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{sortname|Paul|Clement}}{{efn |name=clement-keisler|On August 27, 2007, President Bush named Solicitor General [[Paul Clement]] as the future acting attorney general, to take office upon the resignation of [[Alberto Gonzales]], effective September 17, 2007.<ref>{{cite web |first=Steven Lee |last=Meyers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/27/washington/27cnd-gonzales.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1188217220-bs39MOr+UJpRTDAYWymL9g |title=Embattled Attorney General Resigns |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=August 27, 2007 |date=August 27, 2007 |archive-date=May 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510021210/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/27/washington/27cnd-gonzales.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1188217220-bs39MOr%20UJpRTDAYWymL9g |url-status=live}}</ref> On September 17, President Bush announced that [[United States Assistant Attorney General|Assistant Attorney General]] for the [[United States Department of Justice Civil Division|DOJ Civil Division]] [[Peter Keisler]] would become acting attorney general, pending a permanent appointment of a presidential nominee.<ref>[https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/09/20070917-4.html "President Bush Announces Judge Michael Mukasey as Nominee for Attorney General"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111041805/https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2007/09/20070917-4.html |date=November 11, 2017}}, White House press release, September 17, 2007</ref><ref name='NYTimes-Associated Press-Bush Text-2007-09-17'>{{cite news |agency=[[The Associated Press]] |title=Bush Text on Attorney General Nomination |date=September 17, 2007 |work=NewsOK.com |publisher=[[The Oklahoman]] |url=http://newsok.com/bush-text-on-attorney-general-nomination/article/3128043 |access-date=September 18, 2007 |archive-date=February 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203012225/http://newsok.com/bush-text-on-attorney-general-nomination/article/3128043 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to administration officials, Clement became acting attorney general at 12:01{{spaces}}am September 17, 2007, and left office 24 hours later.<ref name='WPost-Eggen-2007-09-19'>{{cite web |first=Dan |last=Eggen |author2=Elizabeth Williamson |title=Democrats May Tie Confirmation to Gonzales Papers |date=September 19, 2007 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/18/AR2007091801379.html?nav=rss_politics |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |pages=A10 |access-date=September 19, 2007 |archive-date=April 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404130102/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/18/AR2007091801379.html?nav=rss_politics |url-status=live}}</ref> Keisler served as acting attorney general until the confirmation of [[Michael Mukasey]] on November 9, 2007.}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |Washington, D.C.
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|September 17, 2007}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|September 18, 2007}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[File:peterkeisler.jpg|75px]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{sortname|Peter|Keisler}}{{efn |name=clement-keisler}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |Washington, D.C.
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|September 18, 2007}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|November 9, 2007}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|81}}
|[[File:Michael Mukasey, official AG photo portrait, 2007.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Michael|Mukasey}}
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|{{dts|November 9, 2007}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2009}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[File:Mark Filip.jpg|75px]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{sortname|Mark|Filip}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[Illinois]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|January 20, 2009}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|February 3, 2009}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Barack|Obama}}<br>(2009–2017)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|82}}
|[[File:Eric Holder official portrait (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Eric|Holder}}
|[[Washington, D.C.]]
|{{dts|February 3, 2009}}
|{{dts|April 27, 2015}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|83}}
|[[File:Loretta Lynch, official portrait (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Loretta|Lynch}}
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|{{dts|April 27, 2015}}
|{{dts|January 20, 2017}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[File:Sally Q. Yates (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{sortname|Sally|Yates}}{{efn |Served as acting attorney general in her capacity as [[United States Deputy Attorney General|deputy attorney general]], until she was fired after saying the Department of Justice would not defend an [[executive order]] in court.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/30/politics/donald-trump-immigration-order-department-of-justice/index.html |title=Trump fires acting AG after she declines to defend travel ban |first1=Evan |last1=Perez |first2=Jeremy |last2=Diamond |publisher=CNN |date=January 30, 2017 |access-date=March 12, 2018 |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502120103/https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/30/politics/donald-trump-immigration-order-department-of-justice/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref>}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|January 20, 2017}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|January 30, 2017}}
|rowspan=7 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=7 |{{sortname|Donald|Trump}}<br>(2017–2021)
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[File:Dana Boente (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{sortname|Dana|Boente}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[Virginia (U.S. state)|Virginia]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|January 30, 2017}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|February 9, 2017}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|84}}
|[[File:Jeff Sessions, official portrait (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Jeff|Sessions}}
|[[Alabama]]
|{{dts|February 9, 2017}}
|{{dts|November 7, 2018}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[File:Rod Rosenstein official portrait 2.jpg|75px]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{sortname|Rod|Rosenstein}}<br>{{small|Acting}}{{efn |Following the resignation of [[Jeff Sessions]] as attorney general at the request of President [[Donald Trump]], Rosenstein served as acting attorney general in his capacity as [[United States Deputy Attorney General|deputy attorney general]] for a few hours on November 7, 2018 until Trump signed an executive order naming [[Matthew Whitaker]] as acting attorney general later that day.<ref>{{cite web |last=Blitzer |first=Ronn |date=November 7, 2018 |title=Attorney General Jeff Sessions is Out. Here's What Could Happen Next. |url=https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/attorney-general-jeff-sessions-is-out-heres-what-could-happen-next |access-date=September 18, 2024 |website=Law & Crime |language=en-US}}</ref>}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[Maryland]]
| colspan=2 align=center bgcolor="#E6E6AA" | November 7, 2018
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[File:Matthew G. Whitaker official photo (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{sortname|Matthew|Whitaker}}<br>{{small|Acting}}{{efn |name=MW-constitution|The legality of Matthew Whitaker's appointment as acting attorney general was [[Matthew Whitaker#Legality and constitutionality of the appointment|called into question]] by several constitutional scholars. Among those included [[Neal K. Katyal|Neal Katyal]] and [[George T. Conway III]], who asserted it is unconstitutional, because the Attorney General is a principal officer under the [[Appointments Clause]], and thus requires senate consent, even in an acting capacity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/08/opinion/trump-attorney-general-sessions-unconstitutional.html |title=Opinion {{!}} Trump's Appointment of the Acting Attorney General Is Unconstitutional |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 8, 2018 |access-date=November 15, 2018 |language=en |last=Katyal |first=Neal K. |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604134431/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/08/opinion/trump-attorney-general-sessions-unconstitutional.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Maryland filed an [[injunction]] against Whitaker's appointment on this basis.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/11/12/667180873/maryland-says-matthew-whitaker-appointment-as-acting-attorney-general-is-unlawfu?t=1542261595420 |title=Maryland Says Matthew Whitaker Appointment As Acting Attorney General Is Unlawful |work=NPR.org |access-date=November 15, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116000748/https://www.npr.org/2018/11/12/667180873/maryland-says-matthew-whitaker-appointment-as-acting-attorney-general-is-unlawfu?t=1542261595420|url-status=live}}</ref> John E. Bies at ''[[Lawfare (website)|Lawfare]]'' regarded it as an unresolved question.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lawfaremedia.org/matthew-whitakers-appointment-acting-attorney-general-three-lingering-questions |title=Matthew Whitaker's Appointment as Acting Attorney General: Three Lingering Questions |date=November 8, 2018 |work=[[Lawfare (website)|Lawfare]] |access-date=November 15, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116053532/https://www.lawfaremedia.org/matthew-whitakers-appointment-acting-attorney-general-three-lingering-questions |url-status=live}}</ref> The DOJ [[Office of Legal Counsel]] released a legal opinion, asserting that the appointment was legal and consistent with past precedent.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/14/politics/whitaker-justice-mueller/index.html|title=DOJ says Whitaker's appointment as acting attorney general is constitutional |first=Laura |last=Jarrett |work=CNN |access-date=November 15, 2018 |archive-date=November 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114210624/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/14/politics/whitaker-justice-mueller/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref>}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[Iowa]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|November 7, 2018}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|February 14, 2019}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|85}}
|[[File:William Barr (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|William|Barr}}<br>{{small|''2nd term''}}
|[[Virginia (U.S. state)|Virginia]]
|{{dts|February 14, 2019}}
|{{dts|December 23, 2020}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[File:Jeff Rosen official DOJ portrait (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{sortname|Jeffrey A.|Rosen}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[Massachusetts]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|December 24, 2020}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|January 20, 2021}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[File:John Demers official photo.png|75px]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{sortname|John|Demers}}<br>{{small|Acting}}{{efn |Served as acting attorney general in his capacity as Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ National Security Division for a few hours following the resignation of [[Jeffrey A. Rosen|Jeffrey Rosen]] at noon on January 20, 2021. President [[Joe Biden]] signed an executive order naming Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Human Resources and Administration [[Monty Wilkinson (lawyer)|Monty Wilkinson]] as acting attorney general later that day.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/20/politics/justice-department-special-counsel-rosen-wilkinson/index.html |title=Trump's acting attorney general leaves without creating controversial special counsels |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref>}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[Massachusetts]]
| colspan=2 align=center bgcolor="#e6e6aa" | January 20, 2021
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Joe|Biden}}<br>(2021–''2025'')
|-
! style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[File:Monty Wilkinson DOJ official photo.jpg|75px]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{sortname|Monty|Wilkinson|dab=lawyer}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |[[Washington, D.C.]]
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|January 20, 2021}}
|bgcolor="#E6E6AA" |{{dts|March 11, 2021}}
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|86}}
|[[File:Attorney General Merrick Garland.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Merrick|Garland}}
|[[Maryland]]
|{{dts|March 11, 2021}}
|Incumbent
|}

==Line of succession==
[[Title 28 of the United States Code|U.S.C. Title 28]], §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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2016-title28/html/USCODE-2016-title28-partII-chap31-sec508.htm|title=U.S.C. Title 28 – JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE|website=www.gpo.gov|access-date=June 14, 2018|archive-date=June 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615032226/https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2016-title28/html/USCODE-2016-title28-partII-chap31-sec508.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Furthermore, an [[Executive order|Executive Order]] defines subsequent positions, the most recent from March 31, 2017, signed by President Donald Trump.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/04/05/2017-06971/providing-an-order-of-succession-within-the-department-of-justice|title=Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Justice|date=April 5, 2017|work=Federal Register|access-date=June 14, 2018|archive-date=April 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405143719/https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/04/05/2017-06971/providing-an-order-of-succession-within-the-department-of-justice|url-status=live}}</ref> 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, [[United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division|Antitrust Division]]
#* Assistant Attorney General, [[United States Department of Justice Civil Division|Civil Division]]
#* Assistant Attorney General, [[United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division|Civil Rights Division]]
#* Assistant Attorney General, [[United States Department of Justice Criminal Division|Criminal Division]]
#* Assistant Attorney General, [[United States Department of Justice National Security Division|National Security Division]]
#* Assistant Attorney General, [[United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division|Environment and Natural Resources Division]]
#* Assistant Attorney General, [[United States Department of Justice Justice Management Division|Justice Management Division]]
#* Assistant Attorney General, [[United States Department of Justice Tax Division|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, [[U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legislative Affairs|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<ref>{{Cite book |last1=LaGumina |first1=Salvatore J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JUyAAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA66 |title=The Italian American Experience: An Encyclopedia |last2=Cavaioli |first2=Frank J. |last3=Primeggia |first3=Salvatore |last4=Varacalli |first4=Joseph A. |date=2003-09-02 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-58333-0 |language=en}}</ref>
* First Jewish American male: [[Edward H. Levi]] in 1975<ref>{{Cite web |title=#05-591: 11-03-05 NEW AWARD CREATED TO HONOR FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL EDWARD H. LEVI |url=https://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/2005/November/05_opa_591.html |access-date=2018-12-11 |website=www.justice.gov}}</ref>
* First female: [[Janet Reno]] in 1993<ref>{{Cite book |last=Magill |first=Frank N. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xqvpudh8dasC&pg=PA3153 |title=The 20th Century O-Z: Dictionary of World Biography |date=2013-05-13 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781136593697 |language=en}}</ref>
* First Hispanic American male: [[Alberto Gonzales]] in 2005<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alberto Gonzales becomes first Hispanic U.S. attorney general {{!}} February 3, 2005 |url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/gonzales-becomes-first-hispanic-u-s-attorney-general |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=HISTORY |language=en}}</ref>
* First African American male: [[Eric Holder]] in 2009<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last1=Rennison |first1=Callie Marie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jvqcDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT439 |title=Introduction to Criminal Justice: Systems, Diversity, and Change |last2=Dodge |first2=Mary |date=2016-12-01 |publisher=SAGE Publications |isbn=9781506347745}}</ref>
* First African American female: [[Loretta Lynch]] in 2015<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prater |first=Nia |date=January 12, 2017 |title=Loretta Lynch Bids Farewell to Justice Department |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2017-01-12/loretta-lynch-bids-farewell-to-justice-department |website=U.S. News}}</ref>

==See also==
* {{ExecutiveOrder|13787}} for "Providing an Order of Succession Within the Department of Justice"

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Lloyd Austin]]|as=[[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as Attorney General}}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Deb Haaland]]|as=[[United States Secretary of the Interior|Secretary of the Interior]]}}
|-
{{s-prec|us-pres}}
{{s-bef|before=[[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]]<br>{{small|[[Lloyd Austin]]}}}}
{{s-ttl|title=7th in line|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[United States Secretary of the Interior|Secretary of the Interior]]<br>{{small|[[Deb Haaland]]}}}}
{{s-end}}

{{Navboxes
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{{USAttGen}}
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{{Americas topic|title =Attorneys General of the Americas|prefix=Attorney General of}}}}

[[Category:Attorneys general of the United States| ]]
[[Category:1789 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Cabinet of the United States|Attorney General]]
[[Category:Lists of members of the Cabinet of the United States|Attorneys-General]]
<references />