Contact

The Solicitor General is responsible for managing the State's litigation in the United States Supreme Court, supervising all the appellate filings by the Department in the appellate courts, provide original briefing and oral advocacy in significant cases for the Department, making recommendations to the Attorney General for amicus briefs and sign-on letters circulated by the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), and preparing reports for the Department regarding case call and appellate dispositions.

Office of Legislative Affairs is the liaison with the Legislature.

Office of Communications is responsible for all media relations.

Office of Human Resources is responsible for the department's human resources and administrative services. Duties include: departmental receptionist, equal employment opportunity, ergonomic assessments, facilities management, health & safety, human resources management, labor relations, temporary staffing, and training.

Office of Fiscal Management is responsible for the department's accounting, budget development, budgetary control, financial & administrative services, mail, office services, purchasing, supplies & stockroom, and vehicle acquisition & requisition.

The Opinions Review Board is responsible for managing the Attorney General's opinions process; drafting, reviewing, and editing all formal opinions, letter opinions, and informational letters provided to members of the Legislature, the Governor, or any other state officer pursuant to MCL 14.32; handling all citizen correspondence regarding opinions, and reviewing citizen correspondence received from legislators and the Governor. The Opinions Review Board also serves as appellate advisor upon request of the Attorney General in cases involving the observance of a conflict wall, and assists with other cases as needed. They also serve as the Attorney General's advisor on request for the initiation of quo warranto proceedings.

The Criminal Justice and Victim Rights Bureau manages the following divisions: child support, children & youth services, criminal, criminal appellate, and the prosecuting attorneys coordinating council.

The Children and Youth Services Division represents the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services and the Wayne County child abuse and neglect civil actions in trial and appellate courts.

The Criminal Division is responsible for conducting criminal investigations and prosecutions, prosecuting cases developed and referred by State agencies, representing and advising the licensing authority for police officers, and serving as the liaison and providing assistance to county prosecutors. Additional duties include:

Criminal Investigations & Prosecutions

• Public Integrity
• Human Trafficking
• Cold case homicides & sexual assaults
• Asset forfeiture
• Election fraud
• Criminal Enterprises (RICO)
• Securities/mortgage fraud
• Medical marijuana abuses
• Special Prosecutor requests from county prosecutors
• Child sexual abuse material

State Agencies Prosecutions

• Department of Environmental Quality (criminal prosecutions)
• Department of Human Services (welfare recipient fraud, vendor fraud)
• Michigan Gaming Board (casino crimes, illegal gambling operations)
• Department of Treasury (civil forfeiture actions and criminal tax enforcement)
• Michigan State Police (bridge card vendor enforcement)
• MIOSHA (criminal prosecutions)
• Unemployment Insurance Agency (unemployment benefits fraud)
• Department of Licensing and Regulation (unlicensed builders)

Licensing Authority for Police Officers

• Counsel for Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES)

County Prosecutors

• Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan Board
• Prosecuting Attorneys Coordinating Council Board
• "Distressed Cities" special assistant attorneys general
   

The Criminal Appellate Division is responsible for federal & state habeas petitions, state court appeals, public hearings, expungements, extraditions, and miscellaneous state court actions.

Federal & State Habeas Petitions

The Attorney General represents the various state prison wardens in federal and state court actions for writs of habeas corpus filed by state prisoners seeking release claiming their federal constitutional rights were violated in their state criminal proceedings, or that radical defects in jurisdiction entitle them to release.

State Court Appeals

The Attorney General represents the People of the State of Michigan in the Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court in appeals from felony convictions obtained in counties with a population smaller than 75,000, and convictions obtained by in prosecutions by the Attorney General.

Public Hearings

The Attorney General represents the public at hearings conducted on whether to release parolable lifers, petitions for commutation from a sentence, and petitions for pardon.

Expungements

The Attorney General reviews and responds as appropriate to requests filed by criminal defendants seeking to set aside their criminal convictions and remove them from public records MCL 780.621.

Extraditions

The Attorney General reviews requests by Michigan prosecutors to extradite a person in custody in another state for a prosecution in Michigan as well as requests from other States to extradite persons in custody for a prosecution in another State to ensure compliance with the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act.

Miscellaneous State Court Actions

Administrative appeals, actions for mandamus, and parole appeals.
 

The Financial Crimes Division is responsible for investigating and prosecuting financial crimes.  These crimes include, but are not limited to:

• Failure to Pay Child Support
• DIFS Case Referrals: Insurance fraud, Embezzlement by insurance agents, Unlicensed sales of insurance
• LARA Case Referrals: Securities Fraud, Sales of Unregistered Securities, Unlicensed Real Estate Activity, Unlicensed Accountant Activity
• Treasury Case Referrals: Tax Fraud, and Tax Evasion
• Racketeering
• Embezzlement
• Larceny By Conversion
• False Pretenses

The Michigan Prosecuting Attorneys Coordinating Council is a state agency that heads the Office of Prosecuting Attorney Coordination – an autonomous entity within the Department of Attorney General. PACC is funded to provide services to Michigan’s Prosecuting Attorneys, their assistants, and other office staff. PACC's services include continuing professional education, legal publications, legal research assistance, office automation services, administration of grant-funded services, and coordination of state prosecution activities.

The Consumer Protection Bureau manages the following divisions: Alcohol & Gambling Enforcement, Consumer Protection, Corporate Oversight, Health Care Fraud, Licensing & Regulation, and Public Service.

The Alcohol & Gambling Enforcement Division (AGED) serves as the principal legal counsel for the following state entities:

• Bureau of State Lottery
• Gaming Control Board
• Liquor Control Commission
• Michigan Sheriffs' Coordinating & Training Council

• Office of the Racing Commissioner

The Consumer Protection Division (CPD) is responsible for mediating consumer complaints. CPD also provides free consumer education programming. Additional duties include:

• OK2SAY (student safety program)
• Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative
• Business opportunity registrations
• Franchise registrations and complaints (excluding automobile franchises)
• Landlord Security Deposit Surety Bonds

The Corporate Oversight Division (COD) serves as the principal legal counsel for the following state entities:

• Department of Insurance and Financial Services
• Department of Health and Human Services, including
  • Bureau of EMS, Trauma and Preparedness
  • Bureau of Epidemiology and Population Health
  • Office of Inspector General
• Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs – Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau (Corporations and Securities only)
• Treasury – Bureau of Investments
• Certificate of Need Commission

Additional duties include:

• Antitrust
• Charitable Asset Sales
• Charitable Trust and Charities litigation
• Consumer Protection investigation and litigation
• Office of Inspector General
• Criminal investigation and prosecution in the following areas:
  • Antitrust
  • Financial, charitable, and consumer fraud, including criminal securities fraud
  • Mortgage fraud 
  • Sales Tax fraud
  • Unlicensed real estate brokers, unlicensed accountants, unlicensed securities agents and agents selling unlicensed investments
  • Insurance fraud, insurance brokers, credit union officers, and other financial agents

The Health Care Fraud Division (HCF) initiates Medicaid fraud civil recoveries; investigates and prosecutes Medicaid provider fraud; and investigates and prosecutes financial and physical abuse and neglect of residents in licensed residential care facilities. HCF also represents the state in Qui Tam cases filed by whistleblowers under Michigan's Medicaid False Claim Act.

The Licensing & Regulation Division (L&R) serves as the principal legal counsel for the following state entities:

•  Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs, including
  • Bureau of Professional Licensing
  • Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau (Commercial Licensing only)
  • Bureau of Construction Codes
  • Bureau of Community Health Systems

  • Michigan Indigent Defense Commission

Additional duties include:

• Initiating administrative actions against certain licensed occupational and health professionals in the State of Michigan. 
• The Charitable Trust section registers, supervises, and provides the public with information on most charitable organizations operating in Michigan.

The Public Service Division (PSD) serves as principal legal counsel for the Michigan Public Service Commission. Additional duties include:

• Legal advice and representation on regulatory matters involving the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The Civil Rights & Civil Litigation Bureau manages the following divisions: civil litigation, employment & elections; civil rights; and SCFRA & collections.

The Civil Litigation, Employment & Elections Division is responsible for representing the Auditor General; Board of State Canvassers; Department of Corrections; Department of Military & Veterans Affairs; Department of State - Bureau of Elections; Office of the State Employer; and the Department of Technology, Management & Budget Risk Management Fund. Additional duties include:

• All election and non-criminal campaign finance-related matters
• All employment litigation for state agencies, the appellate courts and at times, the Legislature and Judiciary
• Lobbyist issues
• Tort Defense

Federal civil rights and state tort litigation, excluding public highway litigation, including but not limited to, personal injury, police liability, social worker liability, automobile negligence, medical malpractice, complex prisoner litigation and certain hospital and staff liability cases

The Civil Rights Division is responsible for representing the Michigan Civil Rights Commission; Department of Civil Rights; Michigan Women's Commission; Michigan Hispanic/Latino Commission; Michigan Asian Pacific Affairs Commission; Michigan Middle-Eastern American Affairs Commission; Division on Deaf, Deaf/Blind, & Hard of Hearing; and the Department of State driver license restoration matters in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties.

The SCFRA & Collections Division is responsible for providing legal advice to, and representation of, the Department of Treasury's Collection Services Bureau.  The Division is also responsible for enforcement of the State Correctional Facility Reimbursement Act of 1935.​

The Environment & Real Property Bureau manages the following divisions: Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture (ENRA); Special Litigation; and Transportation.

The Environment, Natural Resources, & Agriculture Division is responsible for representing the Commission of Agriculture & Rural Development; Department of Agriculture & Rural Development; Department of Environmental Quality; Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs - Office of Land Survey and Remomumentation; Department of Natural Resources; Mackinac Island State Park Commission; Michigan State Waterways Commission; and the Utility Consumer Participation Board. Additional duties include:

Attorney General designee to/as

• Emergency Management Coordinator
• Great Lakes Commission
• Great Lakes Fishery Trust
• Michigan Petroleum Pipeline Task Force
• Natural Resources Damages Assessment Trustee

Native American Affairs

• Handles or assists other divisions in matters involving federal Indian law issues, including treaty rights, jurisdiction over Native American tribal members and lands, and Indians gaming issues

The Special Litigation Division is the ratepayer advocate in electric and natural gas rate cases and other proceeding before the Public Service Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as well as state and federal courts and agencies. The Division also has the responsibility of representing the consumer interest in utility energy cost recovery proceedings conducted by the Public Service Commission pursuant to 1982 PA 304. In addition, the division handles miscellaneous matters at the direction of the Attorney General.

The Transportation Division is responsible for being the Attorney General's designee to the Transportation and Natural Resources Committee and representing the Department of Transportation. Additional duties include:

Department of Transportation

• Administrative regulatory matters
• Aeronautics Commission
• Contract Litigation for or against those agencies
• General Counsel for all client agencies
• International Bridge Administration
• Mackinac Bridge Authority
• Small Claims with State Administrative Board
• State Transportation Commission
• Tort litigation for or against those agencies

Pursuant to Act 194 of 1947, specifically MCL 720.201, "[t]here shall be a public administrator for the state of Michigan, to be known in this act as the ‘state public administrator.'" The Governor appoints the state public administrator upon the recommendation of the Attorney General.

The State Public Administrator has oversight over the appointed county public administrators' activities that effectuate disposition of the decedent's body and manage the determination/collection/liquidation/distribution of any assets in the decedent's estate.  Attorneys acting as county public administrators have powers and duties primarily related to intestate decedent estates where there are apparently no known heirs.

The current State Public Administrator is Michael E. Moody. He is an Assistant Attorney General with the Department of Attorney General and was appointed by the Governor on August 26, 2011.

County Public Administrators

The State Government Bureau manages the following divisions: Finance; Health, Education & Family Services; Labor; Revenue & Tax; and State Operations.

Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs

• Michigan Agency for Energy
  • Energy Revolving Loan Fund

Department of Natural Resources 

• Mackinac Island State Park Commission Bonds
• Michigan Forest Finance Authority
• State Park Bonds 

Department of Talent & Economic Development

• Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority
• Michigan State Housing Development Authority, including the former:
  • Michigan Broadband Development Authority 
• Michigan Strategic Fund

Department of Transportation

• State Trunk Line Bond/Note Borrowings
• Comprehensive Transportation Bond/Note Borrowings
• Grant Anticipation Bonds

Department of Treasury

• State Building Authority
• Michigan Finance Authority, including the former:
  • Michigan Higher Education Assistance Authority
  • Michigan Higher Education Facilities Authority
  • Michigan Higher Education Student Loan Authority
  • Michigan Municipal Bond Authority
  • Michigan Public Educational Facilities Authority
  • Michigan State Hospital Finance Authority
  • Michigan Tobacco Settlement Finance Authority
  • Michigan Underground Storage Tank Facilities Assurance Authority
• State of Michigan General Obligations Bonds/Notes
  • All voter-approved bonding initiatives
  • Clean Michigan Initiative Bonds
  • Environmental Protection Bonds
  • State School Bond Loan Fund
  • State cash flow borrowings
• State of Michigan Retirement Systems Investments
  • Judges Retirement System
  • Public School Employees' Retirement System
  • State Employees' Retirement System
  • State Police Retirement System 
• Surplus Funds Investments
• Municipal and Local Government Affairs 
  • Local audits and finance matters for the Department of Treasury
  • Local Emergency Financial Assistance Loan Board

Attorney General Designee on the State of Michigan Retirement Board and Michigan State Police Retirement System Board.

The Health, Education & Family  Services Division is responsible for representing Department of Health & Human Services; Department of Education; Department of Technology, Management & Budget; Department of Treasury; and the Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs. Additional duties include:

Department of Health & Human Services

• Medical Services Administration (Medicaid)
• Aging & Adult Services Agency
• Michigan Children's Services Agency
• Child Care Fund
• Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General; bankruptcy and recoupment
• Public Assistance & Welfare Programs

Department of Education

• Library of Michigan
• School Funding and Pupil Audits
• Office of the Great Start, Early Childhood Development
• Michigan School for the Deaf
• Professional Preparation
• Special Education
• Grants and Grant Monitoring
• Education Assessment & Accountability
• Career & Technical Education
• Pupil Transportation
• State Board of Education
• State Tenure Commission
• Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Financial Management/Distress for School Districts

Department of Technology, Management & Budget

• Center for Educational Performance & Information (CEPI)
• State School Reform/Redesign Officer
• School Funding

Department of Treasury

• Michigan School Bond Loan Fund
• Financial Management/Distress for School Districts

Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs

• Bureau of Community & Health Systems

The Labor Division consists of five sections: Funds Administration, State Claims, Regulatory, Claimant Benefit, and Employer Liability sections.

Funds Administration

• Workers' Compensation Funds Administration, its trustees, and administration
  Litigate workers’ compensation claims in administrative and judicial hearings on behalf of the Second Injury Fund, Self-Insurers’ Security Fund and Silicosis, Dust Disease and Logging Industry Compensation Fund. Litigate bankruptcy claims in federal bankruptcy court on behalf of the Self-Insurers’ Security Fund.

State Claims

• ​Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches
  Defend state agencies and employers in workers’ Compensation cases filed by State employees
  Represent Office of State Employer and Third Party Administrator for workers’ compensation

Regulatory 

• Represents and provides legal advice to the Civil Service Commission, Employment Relation Board, State Personnel Director, State Board of Ethics, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs - Bureau of Construction Codes, Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, Michigan Employment Relations Commission, Bureau of Fire Services, Michigan Administrative Hearings System (Michigan Compensation Appellate Commission and Workers' Compensation Board of Magistrates), Workers' Compensation Agency, Department of Human Services (Michigan Rehabilitation Services and Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services), Department of Talent & Economic Development

Claimant Benefit & Employer Liability

• Represents the Department of Talent and Economic Development – Unemployment Insurance Agency and its Director as it pertains to implementation and administration of various federal and state  laws involving unemployment insurance benefits:
  Serve as primary counsel to the Agency and its units, including TRA Special Programs and Unit-Trade Act Appeals, Tax Office and State Unemployment Tax Act (SUTA) Dumping/1099 Unit, RICCS (Remote Initial Claim Centers) - Benefit Appeals, and the Benefit Overpayment Collections Unit
• Represents the Agency and its units in Litigation in state and federal courts including bankruptcy court

• Represents the Agency in state and federal courts as statutory party to all actions arising under the Michigan Employment Security Act, MCL 421.1, et seq., as amended.

The Revenue and Tax Division acts a general counsel to the Department of Treasury, defends the State in claims in involving the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, defends tobacco assessments and provides collection counsel to the Department of Health and Human Services.  Additional duties include:

Department of Natural Resources

• Office of Property Management (Tax Reverted Property Issues)

Department of Treasury

• Treasury's General Counsel
• Administrative Services Bureau - Unclaimed Propety Division
• Bureau of Local Government Services (Assessment & Certification, Property Services, and State Tax Commission)
• Represents Treasury as the FGU for eight Michigan counties
• Office of Taxpayer Advocate Executive Office
• Bureau of Tax Policy (Defense of state tax assessments and tax appeals)
• Office of Collections
  • Bankruptcies – All Counties in the Western District of Michigan and States west of the Mississippi
  • Collection actions in all State Courts – defending policies and procedures, collections in the western counties of Michigan
  • Garnishments (3^rd Party)
• Office of Finance and Accounting Division
• Student Financial Services Bureau (Michigan Guaranty Agency – delinquent loans)
• Tax Compliance Bureau – audit and assessment defense
• Tax Processing Bureau

Tobacco Litigation

• Enforcement of Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement
• Defending Tobacco Tax Assessments
• Defending Tobacco Licensing Actions

Department of Health & Human Services

• General Collection Advice
• Collection of improperly received  benefits
• Defense and collection of Office of Inspector General Audit results

The State Operations Division handles a variety of legal issues for State agencies, including: all legal matters for the Department of Technology, Management & Budget; real estate matters for the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs and Department of Natural Resources; and certain business areas within the Department of State, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Talent and Economic Development, and Department of Treasury. The Division advises State agencies on the Freedom of Information Act and Open Meetings Act. The Division also handles certain issues relating to local and municipal affairs, such as charters and intergovernmental agreements.

Attorney General Designee on:

• Michigan Public Safety Communications System State Advisory Board
• State Administrative Board's Finance & Claims Committee

Attorney General

• Freedom of Information Act
• Open Meetings Act
• Internal Information Technology
• Electronic Discovery

Legislature

• Legislative Retirement System
• Michigan Capitol Committee

Department of Environmental Quality

• Small Business Pollution Prevention Loan Program

Department of Technology, Management & Budget

• Center for Shared Solutions
• Chief Technology Officer
• Customer Service
• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection
• Facilities and Business Services Administration
• Financial Services
• Office of Enterprise Development
• Office of Support Services
• Procurement
• Office of the Budget
• Office of Children's Ombudsman
• Office of Retirement Services
• State Administrative Board

Department of Military & Veterans Affairs

• Construction & Facilities Management Office

Department of Natural Resources

• Office of Land & Facilities

Department of State

• Bureau of Driver & Vehicle Records
• Secretary of State

Department of Talent and Economic Development

• Land Bank Fast Track Authority
• Michigan State Housing Development Authority Litigation and IT
• Michigan Homeowner Assistance Nonprofit Corporation
• Michigan Film Office

Department of Treasury

• Michigan Education Savings Program
• Michigan Education Trust
• Michigan NextEnergy Authority
• Michigan Strategic Fund
• Pledged Securities
• Renaissance Zone Program
• Strategic Economic Investment & Commercialization Board

Municipal and Local Government Affairs

• City and Village Charters, Charter Amendments
• Intergovernmental Agreements
• Emergency Manager Litigation
• Incompatibility and Conflict of Interest
• Removal from Office
• State Boundary Commission