New Mexico Attorney General
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The New Mexico Attorney General is an elected executive officer of the New Mexico. The attorney general serves as head of the New Mexico Department of Justice and is required to be a licensed attorney.
In New Mexico the attorney general is fifth in succession to the office of governor, after the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, President pro tempore of the New Mexico Senate, and the Speaker of New Mexico House of Representatives.
The attorney general functions as the state's chief legal officer, legal counsel to state government, consumer advocate, and guardian of the public interest.
The current officeholder Gary King.
Divisions
- The Civil Division provides legal advice and representation to state agencies, boards and commissions and researches and drafts Attorney General opinions and advisory letters. The Civil Division conducts Sunshine Law seminars to teach state and local bodies their duties under the law and to provide the public with an understanding of what they should expect from their government.
- The Consumer Protection Division enforces consumer protection laws to prevent and deter unfair, deceptive, anti-competitive and unlawful practices that injure consumers and businesses.
- The Criminal Appeals Division represents and advocates for victims and the People of New Mexico in all criminal appeals and habeas corpus proceedings in state and federal courts.
- The Investigations Division is comprised of investigators in three separate specialty area: government accountability, Internet crimes against children, and special investigations.
- The Litigation Division represents the State of New Mexico in three primary areas: general litigation, administrative prosecutions, and representation of judges and state officials on civil writs. This Division also enforces the Master Settlement Agreement of the Tobacco Settlement.
- The Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Division is a criminal law enforcement unit that enforces the Medicaid Fraud Act and the Resident Abuse and Neglect Act, investigates and prosecutes Medicaid providers who commit fraud and/or resident abuse, neglect and exploitation in long-term care facilities, and pursues civil monetary repayment of Medicaid program funds when a Medicaid provider does not provide adequate services to recipients.
- The Prosecutions Division investigates and prosecutes crimes throughout the state of New Mexico. Most of the criminal cases handled by the Division are referred by the local District Attorney, based on a conflict of interest or because the District Attorney seeks assistance from the Attorney General in some specialized area.
- The Water, Environment and Utilities Division strives to protect, preserve, and enhance New Mexico’s fragile environment, water, and natural resources through litigation and cooperative efforts with stakeholders. In addition, staff members represent the interests of New Mexico’s residential and small business consumers in matters of gas, electronic and telecommunication regulation.
- The Administrative Services Division and the Information Technology Division are responsible for the entire agency running in the most efficient, effective, and secure manner.
- The Government Accountability Unit's mission is to evaluate, investigate and prosecute cases of public corruption.
- Border Violence Division was formed to develop and maintain liaison on mutual law enforcement matters between Mexico and New Mexico and to coordinate between prosecutors and law enforcement agencies in New Mexico with similar entities in the Republic of Mexico.
- Immigrant Services Unit addresses issues such as immigrant-targeted consumer problems and other civil matters particularly when the immigrant is a target for abuse.
- Violence Against Women Division is designed to provide training, mentorship and to set standards for the professional response to sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence.
Contact Information
Mailing Address:
P.O. Drawer 1508
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1508
Physical Address:
408 Galisteo Street
Villagra Building
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
Phone:505-827-6000
Fax:505-827-5826
See also
- New Mexico Attorney General Gary King
- New Mexico Governor
- New Mexico Lieutenant Governor
- New Mexico Secretary of State
External links
References
Portions of this article were adapted from Wikipedia.
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