Mo. Rev. Stat. ch. 27

Mo. Rev. Stat. ch. 27
in effect

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 27.010 Attorney general, election, term of office, begins when - compensation.

27.010. Attorney general, election, term of office, begins when — compensation. — The attorney general for the state of Missouri shall be elected at each general election at which a governor and other state officers are elected, and his or her term shall begin at 12:00 noon on the second Monday in January next succeeding his or her election, and shall continue for four years, or until his or her successor is elected and qualified. The attorney general shall keep his or her office in the supreme court building, and receive an annual salary of sixty-five thousand dollars plus any salary adjustment provided pursuant to section 105.005 , payable out of the state treasury. The salary shall constitute the total compensation for all duties to be performed by him or her and there shall be no further payments made to or accepted by him or her for the performance of any duty now required of him or her under any existing law. The attorney general shall devote his or her full time to the office, and, except in the performance of his or her official duties, shall not engage in the practice of law. (RSMo 1939 § 12897, A.L. 1943 p. 869 § 1, A. 1949 S.B. 1010, A.L. 1955 p. 573, A.L. 1967 p. 97, A.L. 1977 H.B. 520, A.L. 1980 H.B. 1266, A.L. 1984 S.B. 528, A.L. 1987 H.B. 456, A.L. 2021 S.B. 53 & 60) Prior revisions: 1929 § 11272; 1919 § 692; 1909 § 966 Revisor's Note: Salary adjustment index is printed, as required by § 105.005 , in Appendix E.

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 27.020 Assistants and other personnel - qualifications - compensation.

27.020. Assistants and other personnel — qualifications — compensation. — 1. The attorney general is hereby authorized to appoint such assistant attorneys general as may be necessary to properly perform the duties of his office and shall fix the compensation of such assistants within the limits of the amount appropriated by the general assembly. Said assistant attorneys general shall hold their office at the pleasure of the attorney general, shall possess the same qualifications as the attorney general, and before entering upon the discharge of their duties shall each take and subscribe to an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri and to faithfully demean themselves in office. It shall be their duty to assist the attorney general in his official duties with power and authority under his direction to represent him in the discharge of all the duties of his office. 2. The attorney general may, at the request of any officer, department, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state, assign assistant attorneys general to perform the duties prescribed by law before or upon behalf of such officer, department, board, bureau, commission or agency and may, upon request as aforesaid, from time to time reassign such assistants. 3. The attorney general is also authorized to appoint a chief clerk, stenographers, typists, clerks, investigators and such other employees as shall be necessary to properly perform the duties of his office and shall fix the compensation of persons thus employed within the limits of the amount appropriated by the general assembly. Said employees shall serve during the pleasure of the attorney general. The assistant attorneys general and the chief clerk, stenographers, typists, clerks, investigators and other employees shall be paid in the same manner and at the same time as the attorney general. The compensation and expenses of said assistants and employees may be paid out of any state or federal funds appropriated to said department for such purposes. (RSMo 1939 § 12902, A.L. 1949 p. 227) Prior revisions: 1929 § 11277; 1919 § 697; 1909 § 971 (1988) Attorney general was authorized to terminate an assistant attorney general at any time and was not required to adopt a post-discharge hearing procedure. Where more than one statute deals with the same subject, the statutes should be harmonized when reasonable but to the extent of any discord between them, the definite prevails. (Mo. App. W.D.) Wood v. Webster, 772 S.W.2d 1.

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 27.030 To aid prosecuting and circuit attorneys, when.

27.030. To aid prosecuting and circuit attorneys, when. — When directed by the governor, the attorney general, or one of his assistants, shall aid any prosecuting or circuit attorney in the discharge of their respective duties in the trial courts and in examinations before grand juries, and when so directed by the trial court, he may sign indictments in lieu of the prosecuting attorney. (RSMo 1939 § 12898) Prior revisions: 1929 § 11273; 1919 § 693; 1909 § 967

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 27.040 Opinions to be given, when.

27.040. Opinions to be given, when. — When required, he shall give his opinion, in writing, without fee, to the general assembly, or to either house, and to the governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, commissioner of education, grain warehouse commissioner, director of the department of commerce and insurance, the director of the division of finance, and the head of any state department, or any circuit or prosecuting attorney upon any question of law relative to their respective offices or the discharge of their duties. (RSMo 1939 § 12899) Prior revisions: 1929 § 11274; 1919 § 694; 1909 § 968 (1974) Opinions of the attorney general are entitled to no more weight than that given the opinion of any other competent attorney. Gershman Investment Corp. v. Danforth (Mo.), 517 S.W.2d 33.

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 27.050 To appear in supreme court and court of appeals, when.

27.050. To appear in supreme court and court of appeals, when. — The attorney general shall appear on behalf of the state in the court of appeals and in the supreme court and have the management of and represent the state in all appeals to which the state is a party other than misdemeanors and those cases in which the name of the state is used as nominal plaintiff in the trial court. (RSMo 1939 § 12900, A.L. 1959 H.B. 120, A.L. 1971 H.B. 779) Prior revisions: 1929 § 11275; 1919 § 695; 1909 § 969 Effective 1-01-72

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 27.060 To represent state in other cases.

27.060. To represent state in other cases. — The attorney general shall institute, in the name and on the behalf of the state, all civil suits and other proceedings at law or in equity requisite or necessary to protect the rights and interests of the state, and enforce any and all rights, interests or claims against any and all persons, firms or corporations in whatever court or jurisdiction such action may be necessary; and he may also appear and interplead, answer or defend, in any proceeding or tribunal in which the state's interests are involved. (RSMo 1939 § 12901) Prior revisions: 1929 § 11276; 1919 § 696; 1909 § 970 CROSS REFERENCES: Declaratory judgments--to be served copy of proceedings, when, 527.110 Delinquent taxes, to assist state director of revenue in collecting, 136.150 Division of workers' compensation, legal advice to, 287.620 State highways and transportation commission, to advise, 226.070 (1951) Proceeding to oust county treasurer from office involved public interest and was properly brought by attorney general. State ex rel. Taylor v. Cumpton, 362 Mo. 199, 240 S.W.2d 877. (1958) Attorney general is not the attorney for a trustee of a public charitable trust, but such trustee has right to be represented by attorney of his own choosing. Murphey v. Dalton (Mo.), 314 S.W.2d 726.

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 27.070 Shall file and index opinions.

27.070. Shall file and index opinions. — The attorney general shall keep in his office and provide for his official use, and that of his successors, indexed copies of all opinions delivered by him during his term. (RSMo 1939 § 12905) Prior revisions: 1929 § 11280; 1919 § 700; 1909 § 974

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 27.080 Court costs fund - creation - purpose - payments to and from.

27.080. Court costs fund — creation — purpose — payments to and from. — There is hereby created a revolving fund for the department of attorney general to be known as "The Attorney General's Court Costs Fund", which shall consist of money transferred by the general assembly of the state of Missouri from the general revenue fund to be credited to such fund, and any money paid into the state treasury and required by law to be credited to such fund. This fund shall be kept separate and apart from all other moneys in the state treasury and shall be paid out by the state treasurer upon warrants issued by the state auditor as certified to by the commissioner of administration, upon verified vouchers of the attorney general. Such money, after appropriation pursuant to law, shall be available only for the making of deposits and the payment of court costs incurred in any litigation, suit or hearing pending or which may hereafter be pending in any state or federal court or tribunal in which it is the duty of the attorney general to prosecute, defend or appear; provided, however, that such deposits and costs as may be awarded or refunded to the state at the termination of any such litigation, suit or hearing shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the attorney general's court costs fund. (RSMo 1939 § 12903, A.L. 1949 p. 227) Prior revisions: 1929 § 11278; 1919 § 698; 1909 § 972

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 27.090 Transition funds and facilities for attorney general, when provided.

27.090. Transition funds and facilities for attorney general, when provided. — 1. In each year in which an attorney general of this state is elected and when the attorney general so elected is not the incumbent at the time of the election, funds and facilities for the attorney general-elect to be used by him in preparing an orderly transition of administration shall be provided. 2. The legislature shall appropriate to the commissioner of administration, funds to be used only for the purpose of this transition and to be expended during the transition period but in no event shall the amount so appropriated exceed ten thousand dollars for any such transition and all funds not expended for this purpose during the transition shall revert to general revenue. (L. 1977 H.B. 493 & 458)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 27.095 Attorney general's transition period defined.

27.095. Attorney general's transition period defined. — The "transition period" shall begin on the fifteenth day of November following the election of an attorney general who is not an incumbent and shall end when that attorney general-elect has taken the oath of office. (L. 1977 H.B. 493 & 458)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 27.100 Facilities to be provided for attorney general.

27.100. Facilities to be provided for attorney general. — 1. The commissioner of administration shall provide office space and equipment for the attorney general-elect and his staff during the transition period. The facilities provided shall be located at the seat of government and shall be suitable for the purpose and capable of adequately housing the attorney general-elect and his staff. 2. The commissioner of administration shall furnish the transition facility with adequate telephone service, office furniture and office machines including but not limited to typewriters, adding machines and duplicating equipment. 3. The transition period office space may be located in state-owned buildings or in leased property. All salaries, expenses, rentals and equipment purchase and repairs shall be made only from funds appropriated for the purpose of this transition. (L. 1977 H.B. 493 & 458)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 27.105 Attorney general's duty to enforce provisions of Chapter 572.

27.105. Attorney general's duty to enforce provisions of Chapter 572. — The attorney general shall have a concurrent duty to enforce the provisions of chapter 572 . (L. 1977 S.B. 60, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491) Transferred 2014; formerly 572.110; Effective 1-01-17

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 27.115 Legal counsel program for military service members - marketing, publicity - ...

27.115. Legal counsel program for military service members — marketing, publicity — administration of program, attorney general to collaborate with Missouri Bar. — The attorney general shall design, implement, and oversee a dedicated program to help military service members and their families find and retain affordable and qualified legal counsel in this state. The program shall be marketed to attorneys and military service members and their families. The program shall publicize coordinated offerings of pro bono legal services available to military service members and their families. The attorney general shall collaborate with the Missouri Bar in administering this program. (L. 2020 S.B. 656)
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=27Fetched: 10/17/2026