The Michigan Department of Attorney General (DAG) works tirelessly to protect and serve the people of Michigan. The DAG handles a wide range of legal matters from civil and criminal cases, to providing legal counsel to state agencies and officers, to advocating for crime victims.
The Michigan Department of Attorney General utilizes the services of Special Assistant Attorneys General from time to time when the unique circumstances of a particular case create the need for specialized services not currently available within the department.
The Michigan Attorney General has determined that a full and complete investigation of what happened within the Catholic Church is required. This investigation is and will continue to be independent, thorough, transparent, and prompt. My department and this investigation will find out who knew what, and when.
The Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) investigates claims of innocence to determine whether there is clear and convincing new evidence that the convicted defendant was not the person who committed the offense.
In Michigan, a victim is an individual who suffers direct or threatened physical, financial, or emotional harm as a result of the commission of a crime.
Elder abuse happens when someone hurts, ignores, or takes advantage of an older adult. This may be someone who is of advanced age or is vulnerable and unable to protect themselves due to a mental or physical issues.
An expungement is a way to remove past offenses from your public record. Expansions under the “Clean Slate” laws include eligibility for up to three felonies and unlimited misdemeanors, excluding certain assault or weapons offenses and felonies that carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
To investigate and prosecute hate crimes by following up on every credible tip and offer departmental resources to assist local and federal law enforcement partners in this effort.
The Michigan Attorney General is leading the fight against this horrific crime by prosecuting the state's first-ever criminal cases under state law banning human trafficking in Michigan. Victims of human trafficking are in bondage through force, fraud or coercion, for the purpose of sex or labor exploitation.
Knowing how to guard your personal information is your first line of defense against identity theft.
Michigan workers enjoy a wide variety of legal protections regarding issues at work. There are a number of state and federal statutes that protect their wages, safety, and well-being.
Opioid addiction knows no social or economic barriers; it doesn’t care about race or gender. It claims young and old alike. The Michigan Department of Attorney General is committed to fighting this crisis.
Michigan Attorney General's robocall initiative is leading several efforts to protect Michigan residents from the billion plus robocalls made to them every year.
Michigan's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), MCL 15.231 et seq, provides that requesters can receive copies or make inspections of most public records of public bodies upon written request.
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March 11, 2026
LANSING – In the latest episode of the Pantsuits and Lawsuits podcast, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel unpacks the real-world stakes of rapidly expanding AI data centers and the impact their enormous energy demands could have on reliability, affordability, and community well-being. Joined by Assistant Attorney General Michael Moody, division chief of the Special Litigation Division at the Michigan Department of Attorney General, and Caryn Potter, an environmental and energy specialist for the Arizona Attorney General's Office, Attorney General Nessel walks listeners through how utilities, regulators, and AI companies negotiate deals, many in secret, that can shape a state’s energy system for decades. The discussion explores the mechanics of large-load growth: queue gaming that secures scarce capacity, special contracts that move behind redactions, and rate structures that can quietly shift costs from hyperscale users to households.
“A single hyperscale data center has the ability to redraw the map of a state’s entire energy system — and your monthly bill,” said Attorney General Nessel. “It was incredibly insightful to speak with Michael and Caryn, who work on these issues every day, about how the costs of powering massive data centers can shift to ratepayers and what protections regulators must put in place to ensure residents aren’t left subsidizing the enormous energy demands needed to support these facilities.”
During the episode, Attorney General Nessel and her guests explain why standardized large-load tariffs and hard collateral requirements for AI data centers matter, how transparency lets consumer advocates test utility claims, and what goes wrong when evidence is sealed. They also dig into utility incentives to build capital-intensive projects, the risk of “gold plating,” and the uncomfortable truth that regulated returns can persist even when performance lags.
The episode also examines the long-term risks of data centers. Contract deals spanning 15 to 20 years, rapid shifts in AI workloads, chips, and cooling could strand assets and leave communities paying for empty capacity. To address those risks, Attorney General Nessel and the experts outline practical guardrails, including public dockets with accessible data, performance-based obligations, clawbacks on incentives, demand flexibility from data centers, and community benefits that outlast hype cycles. The discussion also outlines the role of state commissions versus attorneys general, why revolving doors and political money complicate decisions, and how to align tax incentives with real local gain.
During her time in office, Attorney General Nessel has been a strong advocate for Michigan ratepayers. Currently pending before the Michigan Public Service Commission is Attorney General Nessel’s motion to reopen DTE’s application for approval of two special contracts to service an anticipated hyperscale AI data center in Saline Township, citing DTE’s failure to fully agree to conditions meant to protect its customers from subsidizing the costs to service the data center. The Attorney General asserts the matter must be reopened and subjected to a contested case proceeding because DTE failed to accept the Commission’s conditions. Attorney General Nessel recently discussed the matter in a video. Also pending before the Commission is Attorney General Nessel’s petition for rehearing in the same data center contract case, challenging the statutory authority of the Commission to approve these special contracts without a contested case hearing and requesting a rehearing in this matter.
New episodes of Pantsuits and Lawsuits are released regularly to break down complex legal topics in a way that is engaging, informative, and accessible to listeners. With their blend of expertise, humor, and straight talk, Attorneys General Nessel and Kris Mayes explore major legal cases, analyze state and national policy debates, and discuss how attorneys general help shape justice. Through these discussions, listeners will gain a behind-the-scenes look at the work attorneys general do to serve and protect their communities.
The latest episode is available now on major podcast platforms.
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