Mission:

The Minnesota Attorney General is the chief legal officer for the State of Minnesota, and the authority and responsibilities of the Office arise from the Constitution, State statutes, and common law. The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office provides high quality and efficient legal representation to every board, commission, and agency of the State of Minnesota. The Attorney General appears for the State in state and federal courts. The Attorney General also acts in a parens patriae capacity on behalf of the citizens of Minnesota.

Statewide Outcome(s):

Attorney General supports the following statewide outcome(s).

A thriving economy that encourages business growth and employment opportunities.

Minnesotans are healthy.

Minnesotans have the education and skills needed to achieve their goals.

Strong and stable families and communities.

People in Minnesota are safe.

A clean, healthy environment with sustainable uses of natural resources.

Sustainable options to safely move people, goods, services and information.

Efficient and accountable government services.

Context:

The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office:

·         Provides high-quality and efficient legal representation to state agencies, boards and officials.

·         Protects and saves taxpayers' dollars by defending claims for monetary judgments against state agencies and employees.

·         Defends the constitutionality of laws passed by the Minnesota legislature.

·         Facilitates the enforcement of laws passed by the Minnesota legislature.

·         Assists client agencies to recover fines, penalties and restitution.

·         Assists county attorneys in certain public safety matters.

Primary customers are the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government, state agencies and boards and the citizens of the state. The Office is funded through general fund appropriations and partner agreements with certain state agencies.

Strategies:

·         Represent state agencies and boards in various civil and administrative proceedings.

·         Provide proactive legal advice to avoid lawsuits.

·         Defend state agencies from claims for monetary judgments.

·         Represent state agencies and boards in various monetary recovery proceedings.

·         Defend constitutionality of laws passed by the Minnesota legislature.

·         Take action to ensure compliance with laws passed by the Minnesota Legislature.

·         Provide legal assistance to Minnesota county attorneys and law enforcement.

Key partners are state agencies, boards and officials, the courts, local governments, administrative law judges, and Minnesota citizens.

Measuring Success:

·         Citizens of state are well served.

·         Effective and efficient legal advice is delivered to state agencies, boards and officials.

·         Public interest is advanced.

·         Taxpayer dollars are protected by defending against legal claims made against the state and by recovering funds for the state.

·         The constitution is upheld and the laws of the state are enforced.