Solicitor general

Template:Short description Template:More citations needed A solicitor general is a government official who serves as the chief representative of the government in courtroom proceedings. In systems based on the English common law that have an attorney general or equivalent position, the solicitor general is often the second-ranked law officer of the state and a deputy of the attorney general. The extent to which a solicitor general actually provides legal advice to or represents the government in court varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and sometimes varies between individual office holders in the same jurisdiction.

List

Solicitors General include the following:

Australia

In Australia the role of the Solicitor-General is as the second law officer after the Attorney-General. At federal level, the position of Solicitor-General of Australia was created in 1916 and until 1964 was held by the secretary of the Attorney-General's Department. It has always been held by a public servant. At state (and prior to 1901, colonial) level, the position has existed since the granting of self-government in the 19th century, and until the early 20th century was held by a member of parliament. During the 20th century there have been significant changes to the role, becoming increasingly independent and non-political to balance the increasing political engagement of the Attorney-General. Criminal litigation has largely been devolved to the various Directors of Public Prosecution. The Solicitor-General provides legal advice to the executive and represents the relevant government in court proceedings, particularly in constitutional matters.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Canada

The role of Solicitor General existed at both the federal and provincial levels throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. However, within recent decades it has been renamed or merged into another ministry in most jurisdictions.

Solicitor General of Canada, a role now performed by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
- Solicitor General of Ontario, responsible for police and other law enforcement agencies in the province of Ontario. From 2003 to 2019 it was known as the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. At various points there was a separate Minister of Correctional Services
- Solicitor General of Quebec, a role now performed by the Minister of Public Security
- Solicitor General of Nova Scotia, a role now performed by the Minister of Justice
- Solicitor General of New Brunswick, a role now performed by the Minister of Public Safety
- Solicitor General of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General of British Columbia
- Solicitor General of Prince Edward Island
- Solicitor General of Alberta, a role now performed by the Minister of Justice
- Solicitor General of Saskatchewan
- Solicitor General of the Northwest Territories

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom:
- Solicitor General for England and Wales, the deputy for the Attorney General for England and Wales
- Solicitor General for Scotland, the deputy of the Lord Advocate of Scotland
- Solicitor General to the Duchy of Cornwall, one of two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Lancaster

United States

Solicitor General of the United States, the federal government's primary advocate before the U.S. Supreme Court
In U.S. state governments, the Solicitor General is usually a high-level legal official who argues in court — often in the U.S. Supreme Court or in the federal United States courts of appeals — on behalf of the State, its executives and officials, and its legislature. The position of state solicitor general appeared in the late 20th century, and not all states have a solicitor general. State Solicitors General include, among others
- Solicitor General of Alabama, the top appellate advocate in the State of Alabama.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Solicitor General of Florida, the top appellate advocate for the State of Florida<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Solicitor General of Hawaii, the top appellate advocate in the State of Hawaii
- Solicitor General of Louisiana, the top appellate advocate in the State of Louisiana
- Solicitor General of Michigan, the top appellate advocate for the State of Michigan
- Solicitor General of Missouri, the top appellate advocate for the State of Missouri.
- State Solicitor of New Jersey, the top appellate advocate in the State of New Jersey
- Solicitor General of New York, the top appellate advocate in the State of New York
- Solicitor General of Ohio, the top appellate advocate in the State of Ohio
- Solicitor General of Texas, the top appellate advocate in the State of Texas
- Solicitor General of Vermont, the top appellate advocate in the State of Vermont<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Solicitor General of Washington, the top appellate advocate in the State of Washington.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Solicitor General of West Virginia, the top appellate advocate in the State of West Virginia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Though not a state, the District of Columbia also has an Office of the Solicitor General.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Georgia also has county solicitors general who prosecute misdemeanors in that county.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other countries

In the British West Indies:
- Solicitor General of Leeward Islands
- Solicitor General of Barbados
- Solicitor-General of Belize, a law officer of the government of Belize, subordinate to the Attorney-General of Belize
- Solicitor General of Grenada
Solicitor-General (Fiji), the Chief Executive Officer of the Attorney-General's Chambers, and as such assists the Attorney-General in advising the government on legal matters, and in performing legal work for the government
Solicitor General of Hong Kong, until 1979, deputy to the Attorney-General; since 1981, head of the Legal Policy Division of the Department of Justice (Chinese: 律政司) in Hong Kong
Solicitor General of India, Attorney General of India
Solicitor-General for Ireland, deputy to the Attorney-General for Ireland, until 1922
Solicitor-General of New Zealand, the second law officer of state and public servant representing the Attorney-General in court proceedings
Solicitor-General of the Philippines
Solicitor General of Sri Lanka, the deputy for the Attorney General for Sri Lanka
Solicitor-General of Singapore, formerly the deputy of the Attorney-General of Singapore, now subordinate to the Deputy Attorney-General of Singapore.

References

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