State Attorneys General

Subscribe to State Attorneys General via RSS

Introduction

The United States is navigating a new era of regulatory oversight and the balance of power between federal and state regulators following the 2024 election cycle. As federal agencies retreat from and/or realign their regulatory enforcement priorities, state attorneys general (AGs) are increasingly taking the lead in policing companies — especially those that are consumer-facing — bridging perceived gaps left by shifting federal priorities, and in some cases, emboldened to expand regulatory enforcement into relatively new arenas.

Labor Law Poster Service, formerly Mandatory Poster Agency, was recently ordered to pay more than $8.2 million in penalties and restitution following a lawsuit brought by the Washington state attorney general’s (AG) office. The lawsuit is the third enforcement action taken against this Michigan company in connection with its efforts to mail solicitations to Washington small businesses that look like or mimic official government communications.

At the end of a blockbuster term, the Supreme Court sharply limited the power of federal courts to issue so-called universal injunctions against government actors. The decision in Trump v. CASA (and related cases) did not foreclose federal courts’ power to enjoin federal policies that are likely unconstitutional but curtailed the reach of those injunctions to the parties (or potentially the plaintiff class) in a suit. The result will require affected parties to litigate rather than wait on potential widespread relief from courts in distant corners of the U.S.

Keith Kautz will serve as the new attorney general (AG) of the state of Wyoming following his appointment by Governor Mark Gordon last week, effective July 7, 2025. Kautz has a long history of civil service in the state, having served as a district court judge for the Eighth Judicial District — covering Converse, Goshen, Niobrara, and Platte counties — for 22 years. His hometown of Torrington falls within this district. In 2015, Governor Matt Mead appointed Kautz as a justice to the Wyoming Supreme Court, where he served until his retirement in March 2024.

In this episode of our special Regulatory Oversight: Solicitors General Insights series, Jeff Johnson is joined by District of Columbia Solicitor General Caroline Van Zile and Washington Solicitor General Noah Purcell to discuss their respective offices, and the distinct challenges and focuses of each. Noah shares insights into the Washington Solicitor General’s Office, and Caroline discusses the multifaceted nature of the District of Columbia Solicitor General’s Office, as they balance a diverse array of appellate work and providing legal advice on novel issues.

What Happened

California Attorney General (AG) Rob Bonta faces a legal challenge from a union representing state-employed attorneys over his decision to hire an outside law firm for a high-profile climate lawsuit against major oil companies. The California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges, and Hearing Officers in State Employment (CASE) argue that this decision violates Article VII of the California Constitution, which implicitly mandates that state work traditionally performed by civil service employees should not be outsourced to private entities.