A Guide to Florida Governors and the Florida Cabinet

Attorney General

Member of Cabinet: 1868 - present

The Attorney General is the chief legal officer for the State of Florida. The office was originally created in the 1838 state constitution. From 1845 to 1868, it was elected by the Legislature; afterwards, it became a popularly elected office. In 1868, it also became a part of the Cabinet. Today, the Attorney General heads the Department of Legal Affairs, which was created in 1969 and performs the powers, duties and functions of the office of the Attorney General.  The Attorney General renders legal opinions at the request of state government agencies and appears on behalf of the state in all suits in the District Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court in which the state has an interest. The department provides all legal services required by any department unless otherwise provided by law.  It defends the state on appeals from criminal convictions through state and federal courts. The department provides assistance to local law enforcement agencies in major felony cases and maintains regional offices throughout the state to aid in these services.


Joseph Branch (July 26, 1845 - July 14, 1846)

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

No records at the archives

Augustus E. Maxwell (July 14, 1846 - April 11, 1848)

[1820-1903]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

No records as Attorney General

Records as Secretary of State:

Related Links:

James T. Archer (April 11, 1848 - October 14, 1848)

[1819-1859]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

No records as Attorney General

Records as Secretary of State:

Other repositories:

David P. Hogue (October 14, 1848 - April 19, 1853)

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

No records at the archives

Mariano D. Papy (April 19, 1853 - March 2, 1861)

[ 1824-1875]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Published materials:

John B. Galbraith (March 2, 1861 - 1868)

[1828-1869]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

James D. Westcott, Jr. (1868)

[1802-1880]

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

As Secretary of the Territory

As Attorney General

Other

Related Links:
Other repositories:
  • Papers: An autobiography (1858) in the Charles Lanman collection, Special Collections, Strozier Library, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.
Published materials:
  • Marks, Henry S. “Proceedings of the First Florida Congressional Delegation.” Florida Historical Quarterly 44 (January 1966): 205-11
  • Westcott, James D. Exposition of the Facts and Law, in the Case of G.G. Westcott, Esq., Postmaster at Philadelphia. Philadelphia: King & Baird, 1859.

A. R. Meek (1868 - 1870)

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

Sherman Conant (1870 - 1871)

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

J. B. C. Drew (1871 - 1872)

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

Horatio Bisbee, Jr. (1872)

[1839-1916]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Published materials:
  • Bisbee, Horatio. Bisbee vs. Hull. N.P., 1879.
  • ___________________. Contested election case. Washington: R.O. Polkinhorn, printer, [1877].
  • ___________________. Jurisdiction of circuit courts. Speech of Hon. Horatio Bisbee, Jr., of Florida, in the House of Representatives, Friday, June 6, 1884. Washington: [Government Printing Office.] 1884.
  • ___________________. The Tariff. Speech of Hon. Horatio Bisbee, Jr., of Florida, in the House of Representatives. Washington: [Government Printing Office.] 1884.
  • Clampitt, John Wesley. Horatio Bisbee, Jr., vs. Noble A. Hull. Argument of John W. Clampitt, counsel for contestant. Washingon: R. O. Polkinhorn, printer, [1879?].
  • Klingman, Peter D. “Inside the Ring: Bisbee-Lee Correspondence, February-April 1880.” Florida Historical Quarterly 57 (October 1978): 187-204.
Related Links:

J. P. C. Emmons (1872 - January 16, 1873)

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

William A. Cocke (January 16, 1873 - January 3, 1877)

[1822-1877]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

George P. Raney (January 3, 1877 - January 20, 1885)

[1845-1911]

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

Charles M. Cooper (January 20, 1885 - January 8, 1889)

[1856-1923]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Related Links:

William B. Lamar (January 8, 1889 - February 28, 1903)

[1853-1928]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
Published materials:
  • Florida. Attorney General. A consolidated index to opinions issued and published in the Biennial reports of the Attorney General of Florida from 1895-1960 and a citator to sections of the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes cited. Tallahassee, 1962.
Related Links:

James B. Whitfield (February 28, 1903 - February 15, 1904)

[1860-1948]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

As Attorney General

As Treasurer

Other

Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
Published materials:
  • Florida. Attorney General. A consolidated index to opinions issued and published in the Biennial reports of the Attorney General of Florida from 1895-1960 and a citator to sections of the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes cited. Tallahassee, 1962.
Related Links:

William H. Ellis (February 15, 1904 - January 5, 1909)

[1867-1948]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
Published materials:
  • Florida. Attorney General. A consolidated index to opinions issued and published in the Biennial reports of the Attorney General of Florida from 1895-1960 and a citator to sections of the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes cited. Tallahassee, 1962.

Park Trammell (January 5, 1909 - January 7, 1913)

[1876-1936]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

As Attorney General

As Governor

Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
  • Papers, P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History, University of Florida.
Published materials:
  • Florida. Attorney General. A consolidated index to opinions issued and published in the Biennial reports of the Attorney General of Florida from 1895-1960 and a citator to sections of the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes cited. Tallahassee, 1962.
  • Kerber, Stephen. “Park Trammell and the Florida Democratic Senatorial Primary of 1916.” Florida Historical Quarterly 58 (January 1980): 255-72.
  • ___________________. “Park Trammell of Florida: A Political Biography.” Ph.D. dissertation, University of Florida, 1979.
Related Links:
  • Park Trammell, Florida Governors' Portraits, Museum of Florida History.
  • Park Trammell, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

Thomas F. West (January 7, 1913 - September 1, 1917)

[1874-1931]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
Published materials:
  • Florida. Attorney General. A consolidated index to opinions issued and published in the Biennial reports of the Attorney General of Florida from 1895-1960 and a citator to sections of the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes cited. Tallahassee, 1962.

Van Cicero Swearingen (September 1, 1917 - January 4, 1921)

[1873-1943]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
Published materials:
  • Florida. Attorney General. A consolidated index to opinions issued and published in the Biennial reports of the Attorney General of Florida from 1895-1960 and a citator to sections of the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes cited. Tallahassee, 1962.

Rivers Buford (January 4, 1921 - December 4, 1925)

[1878 - 1959]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
Published materials:
  • Florida. Attorney General. A consolidated index to opinions issued and published in the Biennial reports of the Attorney General of Florida from 1895-1960 and a citator to sections of the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes cited. Tallahassee, 1962.
Related Links:

J. B. Johnson (December 4, 1925 - June 4, 1927)

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
Published materials:
  • Florida. Attorney General. A consolidated index to opinions issued and published in the Biennial reports of the Attorney General of Florida from 1895-1960 and a citator to sections of the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes cited. Tallahassee, 1962.

Fred H. Davis (June 4, 1927 - March 9, 1931)

[1894-1937]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
Published materials:
  • Florida. Attorney General. A consolidated index to opinions issued and published in the Biennial reports of the Attorney General of Florida from 1895-1960 and a citator to sections of the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes cited. Tallahassee, 1962.
Related Links:

Cary D. Landis (March 9, 1931 - May 16, 1938)

[1873-1938]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
Published materials:
  • Florida. Attorney General. A consolidated index to opinions issued and published in the Biennial reports of the Attorney General of Florida from 1895-1960 and a citator to sections of the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes cited. Tallahassee, 1962.

George Couper Gibbs (May 16, 1938 - January 7, 1941)

[1879-1946]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
Published materials:
  • Florida. Attorney General. A consolidated index to opinions issued and published in the Biennial reports of the Attorney General of Florida from 1895-1960 and a citator to sections of the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes cited. Tallahassee, 1962.

J. Tom Watson (January 7, 1941 - January 4, 1949)

[1885- 1954]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
Published materials:
  • Florida. Attorney General. A consolidated index to opinions issued and published in the Biennial reports of the Attorney General of Florida from 1895-1960 and a citator to sections of the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes cited. Tallahassee, 1962.

Richard W. Ervin (January 4, 1949 - January 17, 1964)

[1905-2004]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
  • Papers, 1929-1981. Special Collections, Strozier Library, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.
Published materials:
  • Florida. Attorney General. A consolidated index to opinions issued and published in the Biennial reports of the Attorney General of Florida from 1895-1960 and a citator to sections of the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes cited. Tallahassee, 1962.
Related Links:

James W. Kynes (January 17, 1964 - January 5, 1965)

[1928 - 1988]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

Earl Faircloth (January 5, 1965 - January 5, 1971)

[1920-1995]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
Published materials:
  • Florida. Dept. of Legal Affairs. Recommendations and report of Attorney General to the Governor of the State of Florida and the Legislature. Tallahassee, 1970.
  • Florida. Legislative Auditor. Report on audit of the accounts of the Attorney General as of June 30, 1967. Tallahassee, 1968.

Robert L. Shevin (January 5, 1971 - January 2, 1979)

[1934-2005]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
Published materials:
  • Florida. Attorney General. Report and recommendations of Attorney General Robert L. Shevin to the 1978 Constitution Revision Commission. Tallahassee, 1977.

Jim Smith (January 2, 1979 - January 6, 1987)

[1940- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

As Attorney General

As Secretary of State

Other

Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1895-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

Robert Butterworth (January 6, 1987 - 2002)

[1942- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:
Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1895-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

Richard E. Doran (2002-2003)

Florida Photographic Collection:
Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1895-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

Charlie Crist (2003-2006)

[1956 -]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

No records as Attorney General

As Governor

Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1895-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
Published materials:

Bill McCollum (2006 - )

[1944- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:
Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

No records as Attorney General

Other repositories:
  • Annual report of the Attorney General, State of Florida, 1893-2006. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
Published materials:
Related Links:
  • Bill McCollum, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

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