North Carolina General Statutes 114-2. Duties
Pursuant to Section 7(2) of Article III of the North Carolina Constitution, it shall be the duty of the Attorney General:
(1) To defend all actions in the appellate division in which the State shall be interested, or a party, and to appear for the State in any other court or tribunal in any cause or matter, civil or criminal, in which the State may be a party or interested. The duty to represent the State in criminal appeals shall not be delegated to any district attorney’s office or any other entity.
Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 114-2
- Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
- Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
- President pro tempore: A constitutionally recognized officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the Vice President. The President Pro Tempore (or, "president for a time") is elected by the Senate and is, by custom, the Senator of the majority party with the longest record of continuous service.
- state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(2) To represent all State departments, agencies, institutions, commissions, bureaus or other organized activities of the State which receive support in whole or in part from the State. Where the Attorney General represents a State department, agency, institution, commission, bureau, or other organized activity of the State which receives support in whole or in part from the State, the Attorney General shall act in conformance with Rule 1.2 of the Rules of Professional Conduct of the North Carolina State Bar.
(3) Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 702, s. 2.
(4) To consult with and advise the prosecutors, when requested by them, in all matters pertaining to the duties of their office.
(5) To give, when required, his opinion upon all questions of law submitted to him by the General Assembly, or by either branch thereof, or by the Governor, Auditor, Treasurer, or any other State officer.
(6) To pay all moneys received for debts due or penalties to the State immediately after the receipt thereof into the treasury.
(7) To compare the warrants drawn on the State treasury with the laws under which they purport to be drawn.
(8) Subject to the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 62-20:
a. To intervene, when he deems it to be advisable in the public interest, in proceedings before any courts, regulatory officers, agencies and bodies, both State and federal, in a representative capacity for and on behalf of the using and consuming public of this State. He shall also have the authority to institute and originate proceedings before such courts, officers, agencies or bodies and shall have authority to appear before agencies on behalf of the State and its agencies and citizens in all matters affecting the public interest.
b. Upon the institution of any proceeding before any State agency by application, petition or other pleading, formal or informal, the outcome of which will affect a substantial number of residents of North Carolina, such agency or agencies shall furnish the Attorney General with copies of all such applications, petitions and pleadings so filed, and, when the Attorney General deems it advisable in the public interest to intervene in such proceedings, he is authorized to file responsive pleadings and to appear before such agency either in a representative capacity in behalf of the using and consuming public of this State or in behalf of the State or any of its agencies.
(9) To notify the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate whenever an action is filed in State or federal court that challenges the validity of a North Carolina statute or provision of the North Carolina Constitution under State or federal law.
(10) Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 120-32.6, to represent upon request and otherwise abide by and defer to the final decision-making authority exercised by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, as agents of the State through the General Assembly, in defending any State or federal action challenging the validity or constitutionality of an act of the General Assembly or a provision of the North Carolina Constitution. If for any reason the Attorney General cannot perform the duty specified herein, the Attorney General may recuse personally from such defense but shall appoint another attorney employed by the Department of Justice to act at the direction of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. (1868-9, c. 270, s. 82; 1871-2, c. 112, s. 2; Code, s. 3363; 1893, c. 379; 1901, c. 744; Rev., s. 5380; C.S., s. 7694; 1931, c. 243, s. 5; 1933, c. 134, s. 8; 1941, c. 97; 1967, c. 691, s. 51; 1969, c. 535; 1973, c. 702, s. 2; 1977, c. 468, s. 17; 1979, c. 107, s. 9; 1983, c. 913, s. 15; 2014-100, s. 17.3A(b); 2017-57, s. 6.7(m); 2017-212, s. 5.2(a).)