OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL 99 Jeremiah W. Nixon Attorney General Elected November 7, 2000 Term expires January 2005 JAY NIXON (Democrat) is serving his third term sourians through Internet scams and establishing as Attorney General of Missouri. Nixon was first through court rulings that Missouri laws can be elected Attorney General on Nov. 3, 1992, on a enforced on the Internet. platform of fighting crime, cleaning up govern- As Attorney General, Nixon obtained $12 ment corruption, and protecting consumers and million for Missourians in 2001-2002 from com- the environment. Nixon is Missouri’s 40th Attor- panies and individuals accused of fraudulent ney General. activities, including $5 million returned to con- As Attorney General, Nixon serves as the sumers by the Consumer Protection Division state’s chief legal officer, working with law through out-of-court mediation. Nixon’s actions enforcement daily to fight crime and prosecute to protect the elderly have put telemarketers in criminals. He has been a leader nationally in prison and fraudulent sweepstakes companies criminal law and victims’ rights issues and suc- out of business. cessfully worked for the reform of Missouri juve- As Attorney General, Nixon created the Envi- nile laws to protect society and to instill more ronmental Protection Division to enforce Mis- accountability in the juvenile justice system. souri’s environmental laws. Successful litigation One of the most popular and successful pro- by the division has resulted in the cleanup of grams instituted by Attorney General Nixon has polluted sites and millions of dollars awarded to been the state’s No Call program. More than 2.9 the state. Nixon also has led the fight to protect million Missourians are a part of the No Call list, the state’s interests in the management of the which reduces unwanted telemarketing calls. Missouri River as well as to preserve some of the Nixon also has recovered more than $1 million state’s most valuable natural resources, such as from telemarketers who violated the No Call Church Mountain and the waterways of the law. The Missouri No Call program has been White River basin. held up as a model for other states starting their own programs. Nixon’s aggressive actions in the Attorney General’s Office have earned him national Nixon’s landmark victory in the United States recognition. Barrister magazine named him one Supreme Court in Nixon v. Shrink reinstated Mis- of the 20 outstanding young lawyers in the souri’s campaign contribution limits and cleared nation, and the Missouri Jaycees selected him the way nationally for campaign finance reform. one of Ten Outstanding Young Missourians. In two other cases of significance, Nixon’s work in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Health Prior to becoming Attorney General, Nixon Midwest cases have resulted in the formation of served as a state senator for six years where he the state’s two largest health-care foundations, was recognized by the Conservation Federation which will use more than $1.5 billion to help of Missouri for his environmental work. provide health-care services to underserved Attorney General Nixon is a native of De populations of the state. Litigation by Nixon Soto, Missouri. He earned his political science against tobacco companies for illegally market- and law degrees from the University of Mis- ing cigarettes to young people resulted in the souri–Columbia in 1978 and 1981, respectively. largest settlement in the history of the state. He was in private practice when he was elected Nixon has been a national leader in fighting to the Senate in 1986. He is married to Geor- crime on the Internet, obtaining convictions and ganne Wheeler Nixon; they have two children, restitution from those who have defrauded Mis- Jeremiah and Will. 100 OFFICIAL MANUAL Office of Attorney General KAREN KING MITCHELL CHUCK HATFIELD Supreme Court Building Deputy Attorney General Counsel to Attorney General PO Box 899, Jefferson City 65102 Telephone: (573)751-3321 www.moago.org The attorney general is the attorney for the state, representing the legal interests of Missouri and its state agencies. As the state’s chief legal officer, the attorney general must prosecute or defend all appeals to which the state is a party, including every felony criminal case appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court and courts of appeal. The attorney general also is required to institute, in the name and on SCOTT HOLSTE JOHN WATSON behalf of the state, all civil suits and other pro- Press Secretary Chief of Staff ceedings that are necessary to protect the state’s rights, interests or claims. The attorney general Consumer Protection Division may appear, interplead, answer or defend any proceedings that involve the state’s interests, or The attorney general has the responsibility of protecting the public’s interests in an open and appear on behalf of the state in declaratory judg- honest marketplace. The Consumer Protection ment proceedings when the constitutionality of a Division enforces Missouri’s Consumer Protec- statute is challenged. tion Act and antitrust laws, and has the responsi- The attorney general also renders official bility of representing the commissioner of secu- opinions to the executive and legislative branch rities of the secretary of state’s office. and the county prosecuting attorneys on ques- Missouri’s consumer protection statutes pro- tions of law relating to their duties. The attorney hibit deception, fraud, unfair practices and mis- general may institute quo warranto proceedings representation or concealment of material facts against anyone unlawfully holding office or in the sale or advertisement of goods or services. move to oust any public official for malfeasance These laws authorize the attorney general to take in office. action against Internet fraud, stop the promotion The attorney general’s office was created in of pyramid sales schemes, prevent the altering of 1806 when Missouri was part of the Louisiana vehicle odometers and ensure that consumers’ Territory. Missouri’s first Constitution in 1820 rights are protected under laws dealing with provided for an appointed attorney general, but home solicitations. The division also has an since the 1865 Constitution, the attorney gener- active consumer education program. al has been elected. Consumers who wish to file complaints or By law, the attorney general is a member of obtain information may call the attorney gener- the Board of Fund Commissioners, the Board of al’s Consumer Hotline at (800) 392-8222 or go online to www.moago.org. The division receives Public Buildings, the Governor’s Committee on more than 30,000 consumer complaints a year. Interstate Cooperation, the Missouri Highway Under the Missouri Antitrust Law, the attorney Reciprocity Commission and the Missouri Hous- general has the authority to represent the state or ing Development Commission. any of its political subdivisions, public agencies, To fulfill these and other responsibilities, the school districts or municipalities in actions to attorney general’s office is organized into eight prohibit monopolies and trade restraints. The divisions. attorney general also may act under federal OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL 101 DOUG NELSON PAUL WILSON JIM LAYTON JOHN M. MORRIS Deputy Chief of Staff Deputy Chief of Staff State Solicitor Chief Counsel Director of Administration Litigation Criminal Division JANE RACKERS LEE SCHAEFER JAMES R. McADAMS EDWARD R. ARDINI Chief Counsel Chief Counsel Chief Counsel Chief Counsel Governmental Affairs Division Labor Division Litigation Division Public Safety Division antitrust statutes to bring civil actions in the name of the state and on behalf of Missouri res- idents to recover damages for injuries caused by certain antitrust violations. The attorney general is the state’s chief pros- ecutor for securities fraud, and may initiate legal actions for civil injunctive relief, penalties and restitution under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Law. The No Call program to reduce telemarketing calls also is under the Consumer Protection Divi- sion. Missourians may register for No Call by calling 1-866 NO CALL 1 or by going online to JOSEPH BINDBEUTEL ALANA BARRAGAN-SCOTT Chief Counsel, Environmental Chief Counsel www.moago.org. Protection Division Governmental Entities and Financial Services Division Criminal Division assist with extraditions to and from Missouri of The attorney general represents the state in those charged in criminal cases. every felony case appealed to the Supreme Court of Missouri and Missouri Court of Appeals and also defends the state in all habeas corpus Public Safety Division actions filed by prison inmates in state and fed- The Public Safety Division is involved in a eral courts. Each year, attorneys in the Criminal wide range of criminal prosecutions at the trial Division brief and argue more than 700 cases in level. The division’s special prosecution unit the Missouri Court of Appeals, and the Supreme prosecutes or assists in the prosecution of cases Court of Missouri and litigate some 500 federal throughout Missouri, many of them homicide habeas corpus actions in the federal district cases. The meth prosecution unit specializes in courts, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and handling criminal cases involving the manufac- the U.S. Supreme Court. Division attorneys also ture, sale or possession of methamphetamine. 102 OFFICIAL MANUAL The workers’ compensation fraud unit prose- removing caregivers who abuse or neglect vul- cutes fraud or misconduct involving workers’ nerable citizens. compensation, and the Medicaid fraud control Division attorneys provide legal advice to the unit prosecutes cases involving fraud of the state Department of Mental Health, the Department Medicaid program by health professionals, or of Health and Senior Services, the Health Facili- abuse or neglect of Medicaid recipients by care- ties Review Committee and more than 30 pro- givers. fessional licensing boards including the Board of The division’s high technology and computer Registration for the Healing Arts, which regulates crime unit assists local law enforcement with the practice of medicine.