LAW -- AG

Relevant NYS Constitutional & Statutory Provisions

NYS Constitution 
Article I §6
Article V §1   Article V, §4
Article XIV §5
Article XIX §1

Executive Law, Article 5 (Dept of Law)

Executive Law §63
"General duties"

Executive Law §63-C
"Action by the people for illegal receipt or disposition
of public funds or other property"

Executive Law §65 "Register"

Executive Law §71
"Attorney-general authorized to appear in cases involving the constitutionality of an act
of the legislature, or a rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto"

State Finance Law, Article 7-A  (citizen-taxpayer action)

Public Officers Law §17
"Defense and indemnification of state officers and employees"

Public Officers Law §72
"Notice and reports of claims, suits or causes of action to be given to the attorney general"

&, in the absence of scholarship,
click here for some informal analysis

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Attorney General's website

Attorney General Schneiderman's Public Integrity Bureau 
"...The Attorney General has made cracking down on corruption and restoring the public’s trust in government a top priority for the Office. In 2011, the Attorney General launched a groundbreaking initiative expanding his office’s authority to investigate public corruption involving taxpayer funds by partnering with the state Comptroller. In addition, the Attorney General designated public integrity officers in every region of the state to give New Yorkers a place to go to report complaints of government corruption without the fear of local politics influencing the outcome."

Attorney General James' Public Integrity Bureau
"The Public Integrity Bureau investigates and supports the public's interest in honest government.
When government actors, or private individuals acting in concert with them, engage in corruption, fraud, or illegal behavior
in the course of their public duties, the bureau may investigate or take enforcement action to restore the public's interest in honest government and the integrity of officials at the state and local level. The bureau handles complex investigations into government corruption, fraud, and abuse of authority. Although part of the Criminal Justice Division, the bureau brings cases under both civil and criminal authority, and may also issue reports about its investigations and findings.
The Attorney General has made a top priority of cracking down on corruption and restoring the public’s trust in government. The office partners with the state Comptroller to investigate public corruption involving taxpayer funds. In addition, the Attorney General has designated public integrity officers in every region of the state to give New Yorkers a place to report complaints of government corruption without the fear of local politics influencing the outcome."

Attorney General Appeals & Opinion Division

Prior -- repealed by 1998
Executive Law §63.11,
with Executive Law §74 "Advisory committee on ethical standards"

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CASES

Sassower v. Signorelli, 99 AD2d 358 (March 5, 1984) & here
"Nor is there any merit to the plaintiffs' contention that the Attorney-General should be disqualified from representing the defendant.  The Attorney-General, by statute (Executive Law 63, subd 1), is 'required to represent' him (Warren v. Goldstein, 200 Misc 194, 195 [Steuer, J.])"

Matter of Garcia v. Abrams, (AD3 1983)
"Section 17 (subd 2, par [b]) permits representation by private counsel at State expense only in those situations where review of the facts makes it apparent that representation by the Attorney-General would be inappropriate or where a conflict of interest exists."

Matter of Grzyb v. Constantine, 182 A.D.2d 942 (AD3 1992)

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May 18, 2017
"The Evolving Powers of the New York State Attorney General"  & here
Gotham Gazette (Ben Brachfeld)

August 30, 2018
"'Taking on Trump' isn't the job of an attorney general"
New York Post (Seth Barron)

August 30, 2018
"The Evolution of New York's AG"
Albany Times Union-Capitol Confidential podcast

September 1, 2018
"New York's AG takes on expanded role"
Albany Times Union (David Lombardo)

November 15, 2018
"Editorial: Expand state AG's powers"  & here
Albany Times Union editorial

Also see 2018 election webpage for AG race

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