Attorney General of Iowa

The Attorney General of Iowa is the chief legal officer of the State of Iowa, United States.

Attorney General of Iowa
Incumbent
Brenna Bird
since January 3, 2023
TypeChief legal officer
SeatLucas State Office Building, Des Moines
FormationFebruary 9, 1853
WebsiteIowa Attorney General official website

The office was created February 9, 1853. The Office of the Attorney General is housed in the Lucas State Office Building in Des Moines; the attorney general also has a room in the Iowa State Capitol to prepare legislation.[1][failed verification]

As stated in Iowa law, the powers and duties of the office include: Representing the departments and agencies of state government; taking action for citizens in consumer protection and other areas; enforcing the state's environmental protection laws; playing a central role in the criminal justice system; and providing assistance and advocacy for the victims of crime. The attorney general also issues legal opinions on questions of law submitted by elected or appointed state officials and defends all tort claim actions against the state. Iowa is unique in that its attorney general belongs to the judicial branch of government; in 48 of the other 50 states, the attorney general is a member of the executive branch.[2]

Republican Brenna Bird has been Attorney General since 2023.

List of attorneys general of Iowa

Parties

  Democratic (7)   Republican (26)

No.Name[3][4]Took officeLeft officeParty
1David C. Cloud18531856Democratic
2 Samuel A. Rice18561861Republican
3Charles C. Nourse18611865Republican
4Isaac L. Allen18651866Republican
5Frederick E. Bissell18661867Republican
6Henry O'Connor18671872Republican
7 Marsena E. Cutts18721877Republican
8John F. McJunkin18771881Republican
9 Smith McPherson18811885Republican
10Andrew J. Baker18851889Republican
11John Young Stone18891895Republican
12Milton Remley[5]18951901Republican
13 Charles W. Mullan19011907Republican
14John F. Riggs19071909Republican
15 Howard Webster Byers19091911Republican
16George Cosson19111917Republican
17H. M. Havner19171921Republican
18Ben Gibson19211927Republican
19John Fletcher19271933Republican
20Edward L. O'Connor19331937Democratic
21 John H. Mitchell19371938Democratic
22Fred D. Everett19391940Republican
23John M. Rankin19411947Republican
24Robert L. Larson19471953Republican
25 Leo Hoegh19531955Republican
26 Dayton Countryman19551957Republican
27 Norman A. Erbe19571961Republican
28 Evan Hultman19611965Republican
29 Lawrence F. Scalise19651967Democratic
30 Richard C. Turner19671979Republican
31 Tom Miller19791991Democratic
32 Bonnie Campbell19911995Democratic
33 Tom Miller19952023Democratic
34 Brenna Bird2023IncumbentRepublican

References