Solicitor general explained
A solicitor general is a government official who serves as the chief representative of the government in courtroom proceedings. In systems based on the English common law that have an attorney general or equivalent position, the solicitor general is often the second-ranked law officer of the state and a deputy of the attorney general. The extent to which a solicitor general actually provides legal advice to or represents the government in court varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and sometimes varies between individual office holders in the same jurisdiction.
List
Solicitors General include the following:
Australia
- In Australia the role of the Solicitor-General is as the second law officer after the Attorney-General. At federal level, the position of Solicitor-General of Australia was created in 1916 and until 1964 was held by the secretary of the Attorney-General's Department. It has always been held by a public servant. At state (and prior to 1901, colonial) level, the position has existed since the granting of self-government in the 19th century, and until the early 20th century was held by a member of parliament. During the 20th century there have been significant changes to the role, becoming increasingly independent and non-political to balance the increasing political engagement of the Attorney-General. Criminal litigation has largely been devolved to the various Directors of Public Prosecution. The Solicitor-General provides legal advice to the executive and represents the relevant government in court proceedings, particularly in constitutional matters.[1]
Canada
United Kingdom
United States
- Solicitor General of the United States, the federal government's primary advocate before the U.S. Supreme Court
- In U.S. state governments, the Solicitor General is a high-level legal official who argues in court — often in the U.S. Supreme Court or in the federal United States courts of appeals — on behalf of the State, its executives and officials, and its legislature. The position of state solicitor general appeared in the late 20th century, and not all states have a solicitor general. State Solicitors General include, among others
- Solicitor General of Alabama, the top appellate advocate in the State of Alabama.[2]
- Solicitor General of Florida, the top appellate advocate for the State of Florida[3]
- Solicitor General of Hawaii, the top appellate advocate in the State of Hawaii
- Solicitor General of Michigan, the top appellate advocate for the State of Michigan
- Solicitor General of Missouri, the top appellate advocate for the State of Missouri.
- State Solicitor of New Jersey, the top appellate advocate in the State of New Jersey
- Solicitor General of New York, the top appellate advocate in the State of New York
- Solicitor General of Ohio, the top appellate advocate in the State of Ohio
- Solicitor General of Texas, the top appellate advocate in the State of Texas
- Solicitor General of Vermont, the top appellate advocate in the State of Vermont[4]
- Solicitor General of Washington, the top appellate advocate in the State of Washington.[5]
- Solicitor General of West Virginia, the top appellate advocate in the State of West Virginia.[6]
- Though not a state, the District of Columbia also has an Office of the Solicitor General.[7]
Other countries
See also
- Attorney general, the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions the attorney general may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions
- Justice of the peace, sometimes used with the same meaning
- Law officers of the Crown, the chief legal advisers to the Crown, and advise and represent the various governments in the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth Realms
- Solicitor, a lawyer who traditionally deals with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in court
- Solicitor (South Carolina), a state elected position equivalent to a district attorney in many other states
Notes and References
- Web site: Appleby . Gabrielle . The Constitutional Role of the Solicitor-General: An Historical, Legal and Lived Portrait . 12 September 2023 . 28 September 2012.
- Web site: Office of The Attorney General - ALABAMA. ago.alabama.gov. 2019-02-15.
- Web site: Florida Attorney General - Solicitor General . 2023-01-31 . myfloridalegal.com.
- News: Bridget Asay appointed solicitor general of Vermont . VTDigger . 19 April 2015.
- Web site: Solicitor General's Office Washington State. www.atg.wa.gov. 2019-02-15.
- Web site: Lindsay S. See appointed as West Virginia's new solicitor general. 2018-06-05. WVNS. en-US. 2019-02-15.
- Web site: About the Office of the Solicitor General Attorney General Karl A. Racine. oag.dc.gov. 2019-02-15.
