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) reviews cases where someone is saying they did not commit the crime(s) of which they were convicted. There must be new evidence that shows they did not commit the crime. This new evidence must rise to the legal standard of "clear and convincing" evidence of innocence.
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 removes a conviction from public view. Most employers, landlords, and background checks will not see it. Law enforcement and some licensing agencies may still access it. This page will help explain who qualifies, how the process works, and where to get help.
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.
The Open Meetings Act (OMA) took effect January 1, 1977. In enacting the OMA, the Legislature promoted a new era in governmental accountability and fostered openness in government to enhance responsible decision making.1 Nothing in the OMA prohibits a public body from adopting an ordinance, resolution, rule, or charter provision that requires a greater degree of openness relative to public body meetings than the standards provided for in the OMA. 2
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September 04, 2026
LANSING – Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted a preliminary injunction, halting mandatory implementation of the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) mail ballot rule for the November 2026 election. The injunction follows a filing yesterday in which the USPS admitted to the Court that the agency was not yet prepared to implement the rule if allowed to take effect today. Despite that admission, the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of USPS, filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court last night.
“The Trump administration has admitted to the Courts that they are still not ready to implement their own rule, making it clear this is not about the administration of our elections but is instead just another political stunt,” said Attorney General Nessel. “Rule changes of this magnitude and cost, even when legally pursued, take months to implement, not days. As the DOJ pushes this groundless case in the courts, I will continue to fight back against their naked attempts to cause chaos and confusion over the legal election process.”
“Today’s ruling is an important step for Michigan voters,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “The court recognized what the Constitution makes clear: states run elections. But this fight isn’t over, and we’re prepared to defend Michiganders’ freedom to vote by mail at every level. Michiganders amended our constitution to guarantee that freedom, and I want to thank Attorney General Nessel and Secretary Benson for their partnership defending it. With absentee ballots going out on September 19, we’ll keep fighting until every Michigander’s voice is heard.”
“With the general election just sixty days away, Michigan’s election officials deserve certainty and Michigan’s voters deserve to cast their ballot without federal interference,” said Secretary Jocelyn Benson. “More than 1.3 million Michiganders chose to vote by mail in the August primary and nearly 2 million citizens have joined the state’s permanent ballot list. Voting by mail is a convenient, secure option guaranteed in our state constitution for every eligible citizen – we are united in the fight to keep it that way.”
On August 26, 2026, Michigan, along with 24 states, filed a lawsuit (PDF) against the USPS challenging the rule, hours after it was issued.
The rule, following a March 2026 Executive Order, attempts to establish a national list of eligible voters and directs the USPS to transmit mail ballots only to voters on the list. It also requires states to enroll every voter who is eligible to vote by mail with USPS and tasks USPS with compiling the registered voters into state-specific lists. The rule also establishes new design requirements for state mail-in ballot envelopes, which USPS must approve. Under the rule, USPS will not deliver ballots to voters who do not appear on the USPS-generated lists and will not deliver ballots in envelopes that fail to comply with the rule’s new envelope design standards.
In 2018, Michigan amended its state constitution to allow for no-reason absentee voting, and registered voters may choose to be placed on a permanent mail ballot list. In the 2024 general election, 2,232,721 Michiganders voted by mail, accounting for 39% of votes in that election.
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