Attorney General of New Hampshire

Part II, Article 71, of the state constitution, provides for County Attorneys (previously County Solicitors) to be elected by the inhabitants of the respective counties according to the state Election laws. However RSA 7:34 states, "the county attorney of each county shall be under the direction of the Attorney General, and, in the absence of the latter, he or she shall perform all the duties of the Attorney General's office for the county." In Wyman v. Danais, 101 N.H. 487, (1958), the New Hampshire Supreme Court held:

Construed together [RSA 7:6, 7:11 and 7:34] demonstrate a legislative purpose to place ultimate responsibility for criminal law enforcement in the Attorney General, and to give him the power to control, direct and supervise criminal law enforcement by the county attorneys in cases where he deems it in the public interest.

The Attorney General is required to nominate a Deputy Attorney General for appointment by the governor, with the consent of the council. The Deputy acts as Attorney General whenever the latter is absent or unable to act from any cause, or whenever there is a vacancy in the office, provided an Acting Attorney General has not been appointed.

The Governor and Council are required by RSA 7:15 to appoint an Acting Attorney General if the Attorney General becomes incapacitated to perform his or her duties. The Acting Attorney General serves only during such incapacity and is paid a "reasonable compensation for his [or her] services and expenses."[4] The Deputy Attorney General serves as the Acting Attorney General until the Governor and Council appoint someone to be the Acting Attorney General.[9]

The Attorney General is permitted to appoint Assistant Attorneys General subject to the approval of the governor and council, as provided for in the budget. Assistant Attorneys General each serve a term of 5 years and should a position be vacant prior to the expiration of the term, such a vacancy can be filled for the remainder of the term. An Assistant Attorney General may be removed only as provided by RSA 4:1.

The Attorney General can also designate Senior Assistant Attorneys General, who serve at the pleasure of the Attorney General. Senior assistant attorneys general may serve as bureau chiefs, or in any other position as the Attorney General sees fit.

The Attorney General is also required to nominate, subject to confirmation by the governor and council, an unclassified Director of Administration for the Office of Attorney General, within the limits of the appropriation made for the appointment, who shall serve for a 5-year term. The director of administration may be removed only as provided by RSA 4:1.

The Attorney General may nominate Criminal Justice Investigators and Consumer Protection Investigators, subject to confirmation by the Governor and Council. Criminal Justice Investigators and Consumer Protection Investigators serve a term of five years. The investigators are given statewide law enforcement authority and are considered a "peace officer" as defined in RSA 594:1, III, which authorizes them to make arrests in a criminal case. Investigators are required to meet the certification requirements for a police officer pursuant to RSA 188-F:26. Unless investigators fail to achieve certification or are decertified by the New Hampshire Police Standards and Training Council, investigators are only subject to removal as provided by RSA 4:1.