7-5-5 - Assistants to the attorney general.
§ 7-5-5. Assistants to the attorney general.
The attorney general shall appoint nine (9) competent attorneys, each of whom shall be designated as an assistant attorney general. The assistants shall each possess all of the qualifications required by law of the attorney general and shall have power and authority under the direction and supervision of the attorney general to perform all of the duties required by law of that officer; and each shall be liable to the pains and penalties to which the attorney general is liable. The assistants shall serve at the will and pleasure of the attorney general, and they shall devote their entire time and attention to the duties pertaining to the department of justice as required by the general laws. The compensation of the within enumerated assistant attorneys general and all other regular assistants authorized by law, shall be fixed by the attorney general not to exceed the compensation fixed by law for such assistants.
The attorney general is hereby authorized, empowered, and directed to designate three (3) of the said assistant attorneys general to devote their time and attention primarily to defending and aiding in the defense in all courts of any suit, filed or threatened, against the state of Mississippi, against any subdivision thereof, or against any agency or instrumentality of said state or subdivision, including all elected officials and any other officer or employee thereof. When the circumstances permit, such assistants may perform any of the attorney general's powers and duties, including but not limited to engaging in lawsuits outside the state when in his opinion same would help bring about the equal application of federal laws and court decisions in every state and guaranteeing equal protection of the laws as guaranteed every citizen by the United States Constitution. To further prosecute and insure such purposes, the attorney general is hereby further expressly authorized, empowered, and directed to employ such additional counsel as special assistant attorneys general as may be necessary or advisable, on a fee or contract basis; and the attorney general shall be the sole judge of the compensation in such cases.
The attorney general may discharge any assistant attorney general or special assistant attorney general at his pleasure and appoint another in his stead. The assistant attorneys general shall devote their entire time and attention to the duties pertaining to the department of justice under the control and supervision of the attorney general.
Sources: Codes, 1906, § 183; Hemingway's 1917, § 3471; 1930, § 3656; 1942, §§ 3827, 3827-01, 3827-04; Laws, 1902, ch. 58; Laws, 1929, ch. 15; Laws, 1930, ch. 154; Laws, 1956, ch. 358, § 1; Laws, 1960, ch. 270; Laws, 1962, ch. 487, §§ 1, 4; Laws, 1970, ch. 348, §§ 2, 3, eff from and after passage (approved April 1, 1970).