Competitive

Enterprise
Institute

Issue Analysis

The Nation’s Worst

State Attorneys
General

By Hans Bader

July 2010

Advancing Liberty From the Economy to Ecology 2010 No. 2

 The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General
By Hans Bader

Executive Summary
6WDWHDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDO$*VDUHDPRQJWKHPRVWSRZHUIXORI¿FHKROGHUVLQWKHFRXQWU\ZLWKIHZLQVWLWXWLRQDO
FKHFNVRQWKHLUSRZHUV$VWDWHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOVXFKDV2NODKRPD¶V'UHZ(GPRQGVRQFDQEULQJDSROLWLFDOO\
PRWLYDWHGSURVHFXWLRQLQYLRODWLRQRIWKH)LUVW$PHQGPHQW\HWKLVYLFWLPVPD\ZHOOKDYHQROHJDOUHGUHVV:LWK
WKHSRVVLEOHH[FHSWLRQRIIRUPHU1HZ<RUN$WWRUQH\*HQHUDO(OLRW6SLW]HUWKHHQRUPRXVSRZHUZLHOGHGE\VWDWH
DWWRUQH\VJHQHUDOKDVUHFHLYHGOLWWOHVFUXWLQ\7KLVGLVFXVVLRQRIWKHQDWLRQ¶VKDOIGR]HQZRUVWDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDO
OLNHLWVSUHFXUVRUVHHNVWRIRFXVPXFKQHHGHGDWWHQWLRQRQWKHLUPRVWHJUHJLRXVDEXVHVRISRZHU
7KHKLVWRULFIXQFWLRQRIDVWDWHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOLVWRDFWDVWKHVWDWH¶VFKLHIOHJDODGYLVRUFKDUJHGZLWK
GHIHQGLQJWKHVWDWHLQFRXUWDQGJLYLQJOHJDORSLQLRQVWRRI¿FLDOVRQSHQGLQJELOOVDQGSROLFLHV,QVRPHLQVWDQFHV
DWWRUQH\VJHQHUDOKDYHEHHQHQWUXVWHGE\VWDWHOHJLVODWXUHVZLWKHQIRUFLQJVSHFL¿HGODZVDVVLVWLQJGLVWULFWDWWRUQH\V
LQSURVHFXWLQJVHULRXVFULPHVDQGGLVVHPLQDWLQJOHJDOLQIRUPDWLRQ
/LNHRWKHUJRYHUQPHQWRI¿FHVVWDWHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDORI¿FHVZHUHGHVLJQHGWRKDYHOLPLWHGSRZHUVVHW
IRUWKE\WKHLUUHVSHFWLYHVWDWHFRQVWLWXWLRQVDQGVWDWXWHV8QGHUDOOVWDWHFRQVWLWXWLRQVWKHOHJLVODWXUHQRWWKH
DWWRUQH\JHQHUDOLVJLYHQWKHSRZHUWRPDNHODZV,IWKHOHJLVODWXUHKDVQRWVSHFL¿FDOO\JLYHQWKHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDO
WKHULJKWWRHQIRUFHDSDUWLFXODUODZWKHQKHPD\EHH[FHHGLQJKLVDXWKRULW\E\EULQJLQJDODZVXLWXQGHULW
)HGHUDOODZDOVROLPLWVDQDWWRUQH\JHQHUDO¶VSRZHU:KHQDVWDWHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDODWWHPSWVWRUHJXODWH
FRQGXFWLQDQRWKHUVWDWHWKDWPD\YLRODWHQRWRQO\VWDWHODZEXWDOVRWKH&RQVWLWXWLRQ¶V'XH3URFHVVDQG&RPPHUFH
FODXVHVZKLFKIRUELGDQ\VWDWHIURPLPSRVLQJLWVODZVRQDQRWKHUVWDWHRUUHJXODWLQJLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFH
8QIRUWXQDWHO\PDQ\VWDWHDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDOQRZLJQRUHWKHVHFRQVWUDLQWV,QUHFHQW\HDUVPDQ\VWDWH$*V
KDYHLQFUHDVLQJO\XVXUSHGWKHUROHVRIVWDWHOHJLVODWXUHVDQG&RQJUHVVE\XVLQJODZVXLWVWRLPSRVHLQWHUVWDWHDQG
QDWLRQDOUHJXODWLRQVDQGH[WUDFWPRQH\IURPRXWRIVWDWHGHIHQGDQWVZKRKDYHOLWWOHYRLFHLQDVWDWH¶VSROLWLFDO
SURFHVVHV
$OWKRXJKDEXVHVDUHZLGHVSUHDGVRPHDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDODUHZRUVHWKDQRWKHUV7KHJUHDWHVWKDUPVLQÀLFWHG
E\RYHUUHDFKLQJVWDWH$*VLQFOXGHHQFURDFKPHQWRQWKHSRZHUVRIRWKHUEUDQFKHVRIJRYHUQPHQWPHGGOLQJLQWKH
DIIDLUVRIRWKHUVWDWHVRUIHGHUDODJHQFLHVHQFRXUDJHPHQWRIMXGLFLDODFWLYLVPDQGIULYRORXVODZVXLWVIDYRULWLVP
WRZDUGVFDPSDLJQFRQWULEXWRUVHWKLFDOEUHDFKHVDQGIDLOXUHWRGHIHQGVWDWHODZVRUVWDWHDJHQFLHVEHLQJVXHG

Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General 1

 Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General
Introduction
6WDWHDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDO$*VDUHDPRQJWKHPRVWSRZHUIXORI¿FHKROGHUV
LQWKHFRXQWU\ZLWKIHZLQVWLWXWLRQDOFKHFNVRQWKHLUSRZHUV$VWDWH
DWWRUQH\JHQHUDOVXFKDV2NODKRPD¶V'UHZ(GPRQGVRQFDQEULQJD
SROLWLFDOO\PRWLYDWHGSURVHFXWLRQLQYLRODWLRQRIWKH)LUVW$PHQGPHQW\HW Under all state
KLVYLFWLPVPD\ZHOOKDYHQROHJDOUHGUHVV:LWKWKHSRVVLEOHH[FHSWLRQ
RIIRUPHU1HZ<RUN$WWRUQH\*HQHUDO(OLRW6SLW]HUWKHHQRUPRXVSRZHU constitutions, the
ZLHOGHGE\VWDWHDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDOKDVUHFHLYHGOLWWOHVFUXWLQ\7KLV legislature, not the
GLVFXVVLRQRIWKHQDWLRQ¶VKDOIGR]HQZRUVWDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDOOLNHLWV
SUHFXUVRU1VHHNVWRIRFXVPXFKQHHGHGDWWHQWLRQRQWKHLUPRVWHJUHJLRXV attorney general, is
DEXVHVRISRZHU given the power to
7KHKLVWRULFIXQFWLRQRIDVWDWHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOLVWRDFWDVWKH
VWDWH¶VFKLHIOHJDODGYLVRUFKDUJHGZLWKGHIHQGLQJWKHVWDWHLQFRXUWDQG make laws.
JLYLQJOHJDORSLQLRQVWRRI¿FLDOVRQSHQGLQJELOOVDQGSROLFLHV,QVRPH
LQVWDQFHVDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDOKDYHEHHQHQWUXVWHGE\VWDWHOHJLVODWXUHVZLWK
HQIRUFLQJVSHFL¿HGODZV3DVVLVWLQJGLVWULFWDWWRUQH\VLQSURVHFXWLQJVHULRXV
FULPHVDQGGLVVHPLQDWLQJOHJDOLQIRUPDWLRQ4
/LNHRWKHUJRYHUQPHQWRI¿FHVVWDWHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDORI¿FHV
ZHUHGHVLJQHGWRKDYHOLPLWHGSRZHUVVHWIRUWKE\WKHLUUHVSHFWLYHVWDWH
FRQVWLWXWLRQVDQGVWDWXWHV8QGHUDOOVWDWHFRQVWLWXWLRQVWKHOHJLVODWXUHQRW
WKHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOLVJLYHQWKHSRZHUWRPDNHODZV,IWKHOHJLVODWXUH
KDVQRWVSHFL¿FDOO\JLYHQWKHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOWKHULJKWWRHQIRUFHD
SDUWLFXODUODZWKHQKHPD\EHH[FHHGLQJKLVDXWKRULW\E\EULQJLQJD
ODZVXLWXQGHULW5
)HGHUDOODZDOVROLPLWVDQDWWRUQH\JHQHUDO¶VSRZHU6:KHQDVWDWH
DWWRUQH\JHQHUDODWWHPSWVWRUHJXODWHFRQGXFWLQDQRWKHUVWDWHWKDWPD\
YLRODWHQRWRQO\VWDWHODZEXWDOVRWKH&RQVWLWXWLRQ¶V'XH3URFHVVDQG
&RPPHUFHFODXVHVZKLFKIRUELGDQ\VWDWHIURPLPSRVLQJLWVODZVRQ
DQRWKHUVWDWHRUUHJXODWLQJLQWHUVWDWHFRPPHUFH
8QIRUWXQDWHO\PDQ\VWDWHDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDOQRZLJQRUHWKHVH
FRQVWUDLQWV2YHUWKHSDVW\HDUVPDQ\VWDWH$*VKDYHLQFUHDVLQJO\
XVXUSHGWKHUROHVRIVWDWHOHJLVODWXUHVDQG&RQJUHVVE\XVLQJODZVXLWVWR
LPSRVHLQWHUVWDWHDQGQDWLRQDOUHJXODWLRQVDQGH[WUDFWPRQH\IURPRXWRI
VWDWHGHIHQGDQWVZKRKDYHOLWWOHYRLFHLQDVWDWH¶VSROLWLFDOSURFHVVHV8
$FODVVLFH[DPSOHLVWKHWREDFFR0DVWHU6HWWOHPHQW$JUHHPHQW
06$,WVHWWOHGODZVXLWVDJDLQVWWKHELJWREDFFRFRPSDQLHVE\FUHDWLQJ
ZKDWLVHIIHFWLYHO\DQDWLRQDOWD[RQFLJDUHWWHVJLYLQJDWOHDVWELOOLRQ
RIWKHUHVXOWLQJUHYHQXHWRSROLWLFDOO\FRQQHFWHGWULDOODZ\HUVKLUHG

Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General 3

 E\VRPHRIWKHVWDWHDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDO7KH06$¶VFRVWVDUHERUQHE\
VPRNHUV²WKHYHU\SHRSOHWKHVWDWH$*VFODLPZHUHYLFWLPL]HGDQG
GHIUDXGHGE\WKHWREDFFRFRPSDQLHV
7KHZRUVWRIIHQGHUVÀDXQWWKHLUDEXVHVRISRZHU(OLRW6SLW]HU
The recent wave of RQFHERDVWHGWKDWKHKDG³UHGH¿QHGWKHUROHRI$WWRUQH\*HQHUDO´
6LPLODUO\&DOLIRUQLD¶V-HUU\%URZQERDVWV³,¶YHJRWODZ\HUV
lawsuits brought by VWDQGLQJE\DQGWKH\¶UHORRNLQJIRUVRPHRQHWRVXH´11
state attorneys general 7KLVVRUWRIDFWLYLVPPD\VHUYHDVWDWHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDO¶VSROLWLFDO
DPELWLRQVEXWLWLPSRVHVUHDOFRVWVRQFRQVXPHUVEXVLQHVVHVWKH
has fostered corruption, HFRQRP\DQGRXUGHPRFUDWLFV\VWHP7KHUHFHQWZDYHRIODZVXLWV
circumvented EURXJKWE\VWDWHDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDOKDVIRVWHUHGFRUUXSWLRQFLUFXPYHQWHG
OHJLVODWLYHFKHFNVRQUHJXODWLRQWD[HVDQGJRYHUQPHQWVSHQGLQJPDGH
legislative checks on JRYHUQPHQWOHVVWUDQVSDUHQWDQGGLYHUWHGDWWHQWLRQDZD\IURPWKHLUFRUH
regulation, taxes, and UHVSRQVLELOLWLHVRIGHIHQGLQJVWDWHDJHQFLHVLQODZVXLWVDQGSURYLGLQJOHJDO
DGYLFHWRSXEOLFRI¿FLDOV
government spending, $OWKRXJKWKHVHDEXVHVDUHZLGHVSUHDGVRPHDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDODUH
made government ZRUVHWKDQRWKHUV7KHJUHDWHVWKDUPVLQÀLFWHGE\RYHUUHDFKLQJVWDWH$*V
LQFOXGHHQFURDFKPHQWRQWKHSRZHUVRIRWKHUEUDQFKHVRIJRYHUQPHQW
less transparent, and PHGGOLQJLQWKHDIIDLUVRIRWKHUVWDWHVRUIHGHUDODJHQFLHVHQFRXUDJHPHQW
diverted attention RIMXGLFLDODFWLYLVPDQGIULYRORXVODZVXLWVIDYRULWLVPWRZDUGVFDPSDLJQ
FRQWULEXWRUVHWKLFDOEUHDFKHVDQGIDLOXUHWRGHIHQGVWDWHODZVRUVWDWH
away from their DJHQFLHVEHLQJVXHG7DNLQJWKHVHFULWHULDLQWRDFFRXQWWKHIROORZLQJVWDWH
core responsibilities DWWRUQH\VJHQHUDOKDYHHDUQHGWKHLUVSRWRQWKLV\HDU¶VOLVWRIWKHQDWLRQ¶V
ZRUVWDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDO
of defending state  -HUU\%URZQ&DOLIRUQLD
agencies in lawsuits  'UHZ(GPRQGVRQ2NODKRPD
 5LFKDUG%OXPHQWKDO&RQQHFWLFXW
and providing legal  3DWULFN/\QFK5KRGH,VODQG
advice to public  'DUUHOO0F*UDZ:HVW9LUJLQLD
 :LOOLDP6RUUHOO9HUPRQW
RI¿FLDOV
Criteria for AG Ratings
1. Ethical Breaches and Selective Applications of the Law
8VLQJFDPSDLJQFRQWULEXWRUVWREULQJODZVXLWV8VLQJWKH
DWWRUQH\JHQHUDO¶VRI¿FHWRSURPRWHSHUVRQDOJDLQRUHQULFK
FURQLHVRUUHODWLYHV)DYRULWLVPWRZDUGVFDPSDLJQGRQRUV
DQGRWKHUXQHYHQRUXQSUHGLFWDEOHDSSOLFDWLRQRIWKHODZ
LQFOXGLQJUHIXVDOWRGHIHQGVWDWHODZVRUVWDWHDJHQFLHV
EHLQJVXHGZKHQSODXVLEOHGHIHQVHVH[LVW

4 Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General

 2. Fabricating Law$GYRFDWLQJWKDWFRXUWVLQHIIHFWUHZULWH
VWDWXWHVRUVWUHWFKFRQVWLWXWLRQDOQRUPVLQRUGHUWRPDNHQHZ
ODZ²IRUH[DPSOHVHHNLQJMXGLFLDOLPSRVLWLRQRIQHZWD[HV
RUUHJXODWLRQVRUUHVWULFWLRQVRQSULYDWHFLWL]HQV¶IUHHGRPWR
FRQWUDFW
3. Usurping Legislative Powers%ULQJLQJODZVXLWVWKDWXVXUS
UHJXODWRU\SRZHUVJUDQWHGWRWKHIHGHUDOJRYHUQPHQWRURWKHU
VWDWHHQWLWLHVRUWKDWDUHXQWHWKHUHGWRDQ\VSHFL¿FVWDWXWRU\RU
FRQVWLWXWLRQDOJUDQWRIDXWKRULW\
4. Predatory Practices6HHNLQJWRUHJXODWHFRQGXFWRFFXUULQJ
ZKROO\LQRWKHUVWDWHV²IRUH[DPSOHSUH\LQJRQRXWRIVWDWH
EXVLQHVVHVWKDWKDYHQRWYLRODWHGVWDWHODZDQGKDYHQR
UHPHG\DWWKHSROOV

Report Card

Subject: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Attorney General:
-HUU\%URZQ&DOLIRUQLD ) ) ) )
'UHZ(GPRQGVRQ2NODKRPD ) ) ) )
5LFKDUG%OXPHQWKDO&RQQHFWLFXW ) ) ) )
3DWULFN/\QFK5KRGH,VODQG ' ) ) )
'DUUHOO0F*UDZ:HVW9LUJLQLD ' ) ) )
:LOOLDP6RUUHOO9HUPRQW & ' ) )

1. Jerry Brown, California

7KHZRUVWDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOLQ$PHULFDLV&DOLIRUQLD¶V-HUU\%URZQ2QH
RIWKHPRVWIXQGDPHQWDOGXWLHVRIDVWDWHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOLVWRGHIHQG
DOOVWDWHODZVDJDLQVWFRQVWLWXWLRQDOFKDOOHQJHV&DOLIRUQLD$WWRUQH\
*HQHUDO-HUU\%URZQKDVDEGLFDWHGWKDWGXW\E\SLFNLQJDQGFKRRVLQJ
ZKLFKODZVWRGHIHQGDQGHYHQVHHNLQJWRXQGHUPLQHWKRVHKHGLVDJUHHG
ZLWKUHJDUGOHVVRIWKHLUFRQVWLWXWLRQDOLW\)RUH[DPSOHKHUHIXVHGWR
GHIHQG3URSRVLWLRQDQDPHQGPHQWWR&DOLIRUQLD¶VFRQVWLWXWLRQWKDW
SURKLELWVJD\PDUULDJH²EXWQRWFLYLOXQLRQV²HYHQDIWHULWZDVXSKHOG
E\WKHVWDWH6XSUHPH&RXUW$EVXUGO\%URZQFODLPHGWKDW3URSRVLWLRQ
VRPHKRZYLRODWHGWKHVWDWHFRQVWLWXWLRQ²HYHQWKRXJKLWLVDFWXDOO\SDUWRI
&DOLIRUQLD¶VFRQVWLWXWLRQ13%URZQDOVRFODLPHGWKDW3URSRVLWLRQYLRODWHV

Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General 5

 WKHIHGHUDO&RQVWLWXWLRQ14HYHQWKRXJKWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWDQGRWKHUFRXUWV
KDYHDOUHDG\UHMHFWHGVXFKFKDOOHQJHVWRVWDWHJD\PDUULDJHEDQV15:KLOH
WKHDXWKRURIWKLVSDSHUSXEOLFO\RSSRVHG3URSRVLWLRQ16LWSODLQO\GRHV
QRWYLRODWHWKHVWDWHFRQVWLWXWLRQ
As 7KH/RV$QJHOHV ,Q'HFHPEHU%URZQDIWHUSUHYLRXVO\FODLPLQJKHZRXOG
GHIHQGWKHDPHQGPHQWDJDLQVWDVWDWHFRQVWLWXWLRQDOFKDOOHQJHVXGGHQO\
7LPHV noted, Brown’s FKDQJHGSRVLWLRQVKRUWO\EHIRUHWKHGHDGOLQHIRURSSRVLQJWKHODZVXLW
decision to switch ¿OLQJDEULHIVXSSRUWLQJWKHODZVXLWLQVWHDG$VThe Los Angeles Times
QRWHG%URZQ¶VGHFLVLRQWRVZLWFKFRXUVH³DWWKHODVWSRVVLEOHPRPHQW
course “at the last EHIRUHWKHFRXUW¶VGHDGOLQHVXUSULVHGPDQ\OHJDOH[SHUWV7KHDWWRUQH\
possible moment before JHQHUDOKDVDOHJDOGXW\WRXSKROGWKHVWDWH¶VODZVDVORQJDVWKHUHDUH
UHDVRQDEOHJURXQGVWRGRVR´$QGHYHQFULWLFVRI3URSRVLWLRQDGPLWWHG
the court’s deadline, WKDWLWKDGSODXVLEOHOHJDOGHIHQVHV18,QGHHGFRXUWVKDYHJHQHUDOO\XSKHOG
surprised many legal EDQVRQJD\PDUULDJHDJDLQVWVWDWHFRQVWLWXWLRQDOFKDOOHQJHVHYHQZKHQ
VXFKEDQVDUHPHUHO\VWDWXWRU\DQGQRWZULWWHQLQWRWKHVWDWHFRQVWLWXWLRQ
experts. The attorney LWVHOIWKHZD\&DOLIRUQLD¶VLV$VRQHFLYLOOLEHUWDULDQSXWLW%URZQ
general has a legal ³ULSSHGXSKLVMREGHVFULSWLRQ´ZKHQKHXQLODWHUDOO\GHFLGHGQRWWRGHIHQG
3URSRVLWLRQLQFRXUW
duty to uphold the (YHQVRPHOLEHUDOODZSURIHVVRUVFULWLFL]HG%URZQ¶VSRVLWLRQ
state’s laws as long as 6DQWD&ODUD8QLYHUVLW\ODZSURIHVVRU*HUDOG8HOPHQVDLGWKDW%URZQ¶V
DUJXPHQW³WXUQVFRQVWLWXWLRQDOODZRQLWVKHDG´DQGWKDWKHZDVXQDZDUH
there are reasonable RIDQ\FDVHODZWKDWVXSSRUWHGLW*RRGZLQ/LXDVVRFLDWHGHDQDQG
grounds to do so.” SURIHVVRURIODZDW8QLYHUVLW\RI&DOLIRUQLD%HUNHOH\¶V%RDOW+DOO6FKRRO
RI/DZVDLGLWZDV³H[WUDRUGLQDU\IRUWKHFKLHIODZHQIRUFHPHQWRI¿FHU
RIWKHVWDWHWRGHFOLQHWRHQIRUFHDODZ²HYHQRQWKHJURXQGVWKDWLWLV
XQFRQVWLWXWLRQDO´+HVDLG³7KHFKLHIODZHQIRUFHPHQWRI¿FHURIWKHVWDWH
LVFKDUJHGZLWKHQIRUFLQJODZVHYHQODZVZLWKZKLFKKHGLVDJUHHV´
$IWHUWKHVWDWH6XSUHPH&RXUWXSKHOG3URSRVLWLRQLWZDVFKDOOHQJHG
\HWDJDLQLQIHGHUDOFRXUW%URZQRQFHDJDLQUHIXVHGWRGHIHQGLWWKLV
WLPHFODLPLQJLWYLRODWHGWKHIHGHUDO&RQVWLWXWLRQ²DQDUJXPHQWWKH86
6XSUHPH&RXUWUHMHFWHGLQDQHDUOLHUFDVHDQGWKDWKDVUHFHQWO\EHHQ
UHMHFWHGDJDLQE\DIHGHUDODSSHDOVFRXUW)
%URZQDOVRDWWDFNHGDQRWKHUSURYLVLRQRIWKH&DOLIRUQLD
&RQVWLWXWLRQZKLFKKDGEHHQXSKHOGE\WKHIHGHUDOFRXUWVPRUHWKDQD
GHFDGHHDUOLHU$UWLFOH6HFWLRQRIWKH&DOLIRUQLD&RQVWLWXWLRQEDUV
&DOLIRUQLD¶VJRYHUQPHQWIURPLPSRVLQJUDFLDORUJHQGHUSUHIHUHQFHV
LQFOXGLQJUDFHEDVHGDI¿UPDWLYHDFWLRQ,WZDVDGRSWHGE\&DOLIRUQLD
YRWHUVLQDV3URSRVLWLRQDQGXSKHOGLQE\DIHGHUDODSSHDOV

6 Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General

FRXUW,Q%URZQWROGWKH&DOLIRUQLD6XSUHPH&RXUWWRLJQRUHWKLV
SURYLVLRQEHFDXVHKHFODLPHGLWZDVXQFRQVWLWXWLRQDO
%URZQKDVDOVREHHQYHU\DJJUHVVLYHLQXVLQJODZVXLWVEDVHGRQ
YDJXHFODLPVRIHQYLURQPHQWDOKDUPWREORFNHQHUJ\SURMHFWVLQ&DOLIRUQLD
DQGWRUHJXODWHEH\RQGWKHVWDWH¶VERUGHUV7KHHIIHFWRIDQ\LQGLYLGXDO Brown brought so
SURMHFWRUGHYHORSPHQWRQRYHUDOOJOREDOZDUPLQJRUJUHHQKRXVHJDV
HPLVVLRQVLVPLFURVFRSLF\HW%URZQEURXJKWVRPDQ\ODZVXLWVRYHU many lawsuits over
JOREDOZDUPLQJDJDLQVWEXVLQHVVHVDQGORFDOJRYHUQPHQWVWKDWWKHVWDWH global warming
OHJLVODWXUHFXUEHGKLVDELOLW\WRVXHORFDOJRYHUQPHQWV
%URZQKDVHQJDJHGLQWKLVNLQGRIJUHHQDFWLYLVPZLWKRXWUHJDUGWR against businesses
WKHHIIHFWVRQWKHVWDWH¶VHFRQRP\,QKHWKUHDWHQHGWRVXHWREORFND and local governments
SURSRVHGZDWHUERWWOLQJSODQWLQ1RUWKHUQ&DOLIRUQLDXQOHVVLWVHIIHFWVRQ
JOREDOZDUPLQJZHUHHYDOXDWHG1HVWOpZDQWHGWRERWWOHZDWHUIURPWKUHH that the state
QDWXUDOVSULQJVWKDWVXSSO\0F&ORXGDGHSUHVVHGIRUPHUOXPEHUWRZQ legislature curbed
DERXWPLOHVQRUWKRI6DQ)UDQFLVFRWKDWEDGO\QHHGVMREV7KHSODQW
ZRXOGSURGXFHHQRXJKZDWHUWR¿OOELOOLRQZDWHUERWWOHV Shortly his ability to sue
DIWHU%URZQ¶VWKUHDW1HVWOpFDQFHOOHGWKHSURMHFWDQGWKHMREVWKH local governments.
SODQWZRXOGKDYHFUHDWHGHYDSRUDWHGDORQJZLWKLW
0RGHUQL]DWLRQRI$PHULFD¶VUH¿QHULHVLVFULWLFDOO\QHHGHGWR
PDLQWDLQDVHFXUHVXSSO\RIIXHO317KHQDWLRQKDVDVLJQL¿FDQWVKRUWIDOO
LQUH¿QLQJFDSDFLW\ZKLFKXQQHFHVVDULO\IRUFHVRYHUUHOLDQFHRQXQFHUWDLQ
IRUHLJQVXSSOLHV'HVSLWHWKLVQHHGLQ%URZQXVHGWKHWKUHDW
RIOLWLJDWLRQWRGHOD\PRGHUQL]DWLRQRIDUH¿QHU\E\&KHYURQ337KLV
UHSUHVHQWHGDFRQÀLFWRILQWHUHVW%URZQ¶VSHUVRQDOIRUWXQHFDPHIURPWKH
³IDPLO\RLOEXVLQHVV´ZKLFKUHFHLYHGD³IHHIRUHDFKEDUUHO´RIRLOH[SRUWHG
IURP,QGRQHVLDLQDFRQFHVVLRQJUDQWHGE\WKDWFRXQWU\¶VIRUPHUPLOLWDU\
GLFWDWRUVKLS&KHYURQ¶VRLOUH¿QHULHVLQ&DOLIRUQLDDUHGHVLJQHGWRSURFHVV
$ODVNDQFUXGHWRFRPSHWHDJDLQVWRLOIURP,QGRQHVLDLQ&DOLIRUQLD¶V
SRZHUSODQWPDUNHW34 %URZQKDVDOVRPHGGOHGEH\RQGKLVRZQMXULVGLFWLRQ
E\SUHVVXULQJRWKHUVWDWHVWREORFNQHZSRZHUSODQWVZLWKLQWKHLURZQ
ERUGHUV35
%URZQ¶VIXQGUDLVLQJSUDFWLFHVUDLVHHWKLFDOFRQFHUQV+HFROOHFWHG
LQFDPSDLJQFRQWULEXWLRQVIURPUHODWLYHVDQGIURPDFRPSDQ\
KLVRI¿FHKDGEHHQLQYHVWLJDWLQJLQDSXEOLFSHQVLRQIXQGFRUUXSWLRQ
SUREH368VLQJKLVOHYHUDJHDVVWDWHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDO%URZQUDLVHGQHDUO\
PLOOLRQLQFRQWULEXWLRQVWRIDYRUHGFKDULWLHVIURPLQGXVWULHVWKDWKH
RYHUVHHVDVVWDWHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOLQFOXGLQJXWLOLWLHVFDVLQRRSHUDWRUV
DQGKHDOWKFDUHRUJDQL]DWLRQV%URZQDOVRFRQGXFWHGDQLQYHVWLJDWLRQ

Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General 

 RIWKHVFDQGDOSURQHOHIWLVWDFWLYLVWJURXS$VVRFLDWLRQRI&RPPXQLW\
2UJDQL]DWLRQVIRU5HIRUP1RZEHWWHUNQRZQE\LWVDFURQ\P$&251
WKDWKDVEHHQFULWLFL]HGDVDZKLWHZDVK$&251IDFHGDSXEOLFUHODWLRQV
GLVDVWHULQ6HSWHPEHUZKHQWKHFRQVHUYDWLYHFRPPHQWDU\ZHEVLWH
Edmondson has %LJ*RYHUQPHQWFRPUHOHDVHGDVHULHVRIKLJKO\HPEDUUDVVLQJKLGGHQ
FDPHUDYLGHRV,QWKHYLGHRV$&251HPSOR\HHVDWVHYHUDORIWKHJURXS¶V
abused the power RI¿FHVDURXQGWKHFRXQWU\DUHVHHQSURYLGLQJDGYLFHWRWKH¿OPPDNHUV
RIKLVRI¿FHLQ DPDQDQGZRPDQSRVLQJDVDSLPSDQGSURVWLWXWHRQKRZWRFRQGXFW
VHYHUDOLOOHJDODFWLYLWLHVLQFOXGLQJUXQQLQJDSURVWLWXWLRQULQJ38,QKLV
order to intimidate UHSRUW%URZQVDLGWKDWZKLOH$&251GLGQRWKLQJ³FULPLQDO´KLVRI¿FH
political opponents. IRXQGOLNHO\YLRODWLRQVRIVWDWHODZ%URZQFORVHGKLVLQYHVWLJDWLRQ
ZLWKRXWWDNLQJDQ\DFWLRQDJDLQVW$&251GHVSLWHDGPLWWLQJWKDWLWKDG
FRPPLWWHG³KLJKO\LQDSSURSULDWHDFWV´VXFKDVIDLOXUHWR¿OHWD[UHWXUQV
LOOHJDOO\GXPSLQJSDJHVRIGRFXPHQWVDQGIRXULQVWDQFHVRI
SRVVLEOHYRWHUUHJLVWUDWLRQIUDXG:RUVH%URZQFULWLFL]HGWKH¿OPPDNHUV
ZKRH[SRVHG$&251¶VZURQJGRLQJFODLPLQJWKHLUYLGHRWDSH³YLRODWHG´
$&251¶VSULYDF\²HYHQWKRXJKWKHYLGHRVZHUHDOOPDGHDWWKH$&251
RI¿FHV¶SXEOLFUHFHSWLRQDUHDV

2. Drew Edmondson, Oklahoma

7KHVHFRQGZRUVWDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOLV2NODKRPD¶V'UHZ(GPRQGVRQ
ZKRVHWHQXUHKDVEHHQPDUNHGE\DSDWWHUQRISROLWLFDOEXOO\LQJDQG
K\SRFULV\(GPRQGVRQDSSHDUVWRKDYHKDGQRSUREOHPZLWKDFFHSWLQJ
PRQH\IURPRXWRIVWDWHODZ\HUV41ZHDOWK\VSHFLDOLQWHUHVWVDQGHYHQ
IHORQV43+HKDVYLRODWHGVWDWHHWKLFVUXOHVDQGFDPSDLJQODZV44$QGKHKDV
VWHHUHGOXFUDWLYHJRYHUQPHQWFRQWUDFWVWRODZ\HUVZKRJLYHKLPGRQDWLRQV
VXFKDVJHQHURXVFRQWLQJHQF\IHHVIRUODZ\HUVWKDWJLYHWKHPXSWR
PLOOLRQVLPSO\IRUEULQJLQJFRS\FDWODZVXLWVWKDWPLPLFSHQGLQJODZVXLWV
EURXJKWE\RWKHUWULDOODZ\HUVDQGJLYHWKHODZ\HUVXSWRSHUFHQWRI
ZKDWWKHVWDWHUHFRYHUV45
(GPRQGVRQKDVDOVRDEXVHGWKHSRZHURIKLVRI¿FHLQRUGHUWR
LQWLPLGDWHSROLWLFDORSSRQHQWV,QKHUHSHDWHGO\LQGLFWHGWD[SD\HU
DFWLYLVWV3DXO-DFRE6XVDQ-RKQVRQDQG5LFN&DUSHQWHUIRUVHHNLQJWR
SODFHRQWKHEDOORWD7D[SD\HU%LOORI5LJKWVWKDWZRXOGKDYHOLPLWHGWKH
UDWHRIJURZWKRIVWDWHJRYHUQPHQWVSHQGLQJ467KHVHDFWLYLVWVGXEEHGWKH
³2NODKRPD7KUHH´ZHUHOHGRXWRIWKHFRXUWURRPLQKDQGFXIIVIRUWKHLU
UROHLQKLULQJSHWLWLRQFLUFXODWRUVIURPDFURVVWKHFRXQWU\WRKHOSWKHP
JDWKHUWKHKXQGUHGVRIWKRXVDQGVRIVLJQDWXUHVQHHGHGWRSXWWKHLQLWLDWLYH
RQWKHEDOORW48,IFRQYLFWHGWKH\IDFHGXSWR\HDUVLQSULVRQ

8 Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General

 (GPRQGVRQSUHYLRXVO\KDGVWDWHGWKDWWKHUHZDVQRWKLQJZURQJ
ZLWKXVLQJSHRSOHFRPLQJIURPRXWRIVWDWHWRFLUFXODWHSHWLWLRQVDVORQJ
DVWKH\UHVLGHGLQ2NODKRPDIRUWKHGXUDWLRQRIWKHLUZRUN2NODKRPD¶V
6HFUHWDU\RI6WDWHKDGJLYHQWKHVDPHDGYLFH51%XW(GPRQGVRQVXGGHQO\
FKDQJHGKLVSRVLWLRQDQGLQGLFWHG-DFRE-RKQVRQDQG&DUSHQWHUIRU Edmondson persisted
YLRODWLQJDSUHYLRXVO\XQHQIRUFHGSDWHQWO\XQFRQVWLWXWLRQDO2NODKRPD
VWDWXWHEDQQLQJQRQUHVLGHQWSHWLWLRQFLUFXODWRUV²DVWDWXWHLQWHUSUHWHGE\ in his politically
WKHVWDWH6XSUHPH&RXUWWREDQDOOEXW³SHUPDQHQW´VWDWHUHVLGHQWVIURP motivated prosecution
JDWKHULQJSHWLWLRQVLJQDWXUHV:KLOH(GPRQGVRQ¶VSURVHFXWLRQPD\VHHP
ODZIXOE\IROORZLQJWKHOHWWHURIWKHODZUXOLQJVRQVLPLODUODZV²DQGWKH until 2009, when he
UHVXOWLQJORQJRGGVDJDLQVWKLVSURVHFXWLRQVXFFHHGLQJ²PDNHFOHDUWKDW ¿QDOO\ERZHGWRWKH
LWZDVSXUHO\SROLWLFDO(VVHQWLDOO\(GPRQGVRQSURVHFXWHGWKH2NODKRPD
7KUHHXQGHUDODZWKDWKDGDOUHDG\KDGVHYHUDOOHJVNLFNHGRXWIURP inevitability that he
XQGHULW6HYHUDOIHGHUDODSSHDOVFRXUWVKDGVWUXFNGRZQVXFKUHVLGHQF\ would be found in
UHTXLUHPHQWVDQGOHVVUHVWULFWLYHRQHVUHTXLULQJRQO\EULHIUHVLGHQF\DV
YLRODWLQJWKH)LUVW$PHQGPHQW537KDWLQFOXGHVWKHIHGHUDODSSHDOVFRXUW violation of the
ZLWKMXULVGLFWLRQRYHU2NODKRPDZKLFKVWUXFNGRZQUHVWULFWLRQVRQ First Amendment.
QRQUHVLGHQWSHWLWLRQFLUFXODWRUVFRQWDLQHGLQDPXQLFLSDORUGLQDQFHLQ
54DQGVWUXFNGRZQWKHYHU\VWDWXWHXQGHUZKLFK(GPRQGVRQFKDUJHG
WKH2NODKRPD7KUHHLQ55%XW(GPRQGVRQSHUVLVWHGLQKLVSROLWLFDOO\
PRWLYDWHGSURVHFXWLRQXQWLO56ZKHQKH¿QDOO\ERZHGWRWKH
LQHYLWDELOLW\WKDWKHZRXOGEHIRXQGLQYLRODWLRQRIWKH)LUVW$PHQGPHQW
0RUHRYHUKLVKDQJLQJRQWRVXFKDWKLQUHHGWRSHUVHFXWHKLVSROLWLFDO
RSSRQHQWVGRHVQRWVSHDNZHOORIKLVMXGJPHQW
(GPRQGVRQ¶VRI¿FHDQGKLVVXSSRUWHUVGHIHQGHGWKHSURVHFXWLRQV
DVDZD\RINHHSLQJSHRSOHIURPRXWVLGHWKHVWDWHIURPSDUWLFLSDWLQJLQ
2NODKRPDVWDWHSROLWLFV6XFKDSXUSRVHLVÀDWO\DWRGGVZLWKWKH)LUVW
$PHQGPHQWZKLFKSURWHFWVQRQUHVLGHQWVDQGUHVLGHQWVDOLNH58DQGIXOO\
DSSOLHVWRSHWLWLRQFLUFXODWRUV$VRQHFLWL]HQQRWHGLQThe Oklahoman
³7KHSURVHFXWLRQRI3DXO-DFREDQGRWKHUVIRUWKHDOOHJHGFULPHRIXVLQJ
RXWRIVWDWHSHWLWLRQFLUFXODWRUVDQGWKHODZRQZKLFKWKDWSURVHFXWLRQ
LVEDVHGDUHGDQJHURXVDWWDFNVRQRXUFRQVWLWXWLRQDOULJKWWRSHWLWLRQIRU
UHGUHVVRIJULHYDQFHV7KHWUDGLWLRQRIFRPLQJWRWKHSROLWLFDODVVLVWDQFH
RIRWKHUVLVZHOOHVWDEOLVKHGLQ$PHULFDQKLVWRU\ODZDQGSUDFWLFH6KRXOG
9LUJLQLDQVKDYHVWD\HGKRPHGXULQJWKH5HYROXWLRQDQGQRWDVVLVWHGWKH
RWKHUFRORQLHV"6KRXOGSHRSOHQRWKDYHJRQHWR$ODEDPDLQWKHVWR
¿JKWLQMXVWLFH"´2XWRIVWDWHDFWLYLVWVSOD\HGFULWLFDOUROHVLQWKH¿JKWWR
HQGVHJUHJDWLRQLQVWDWHVOLNH0LVVLVVLSSLDQG$ODEDPD61(YHQWRGD\WKH\
FRQWLQXHWRSOD\DFULWLFDOUROHLQPRYHPHQWVIRUSROLWLFDOFKDQJHVXFKDV

Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General 

 WKHSXVKIRUWHUPOLPLWVZKRVHOHDGLQJH[SRQHQWLV3DXO-DFREWKHPRVW
SURPLQHQWRIWKH2NODKRPD7KUHH
,WLVZRUWKQRWKLQJKRZLURQLFLWLVIRU(GPRQGVRQWRFRPSODLQ
DERXWRXWVLGHUVPHGGOLQJLQ2NODKRPDSROLWLFVZKHQRXWRIVWDWH
It is worth nothing RSSRQHQWVRIWKHLQLWLDWLYHURXWLQHO\KDUDVVHGWKHSHWLWLRQJDWKHUHUV
ZLWKRXW(GPRQGVRQRUDQ\RQHHOVHTXHVWLRQLQJWKHLUULJKWWRFRPHLQWR
how ironic it is WKHVWDWHWRGRVR63,WLVDOVRLURQLFLQOLJKWRIKLVZLOOLQJQHVVWRLJQRUH
for Edmondson to IHGHUDOLVPVDIHJXDUGVZKHQLWKDVEHHQFRQYHQLHQWIRUKLPWRGRVR64
7KHODZEDQQLQJQRQUHVLGHQWSHWLWLRQFLUFXODWRUVZDVFKDOOHQJHG
complain about LQIHGHUDOFRXUWE\VXSSRUWHUVRIYRWHULQLWLDWLYHVZKRRIWHQSUHIHU
outsiders meddling KLULQJH[SHULHQFHGSURIHVVLRQDOSHWLWLRQHUVIURPRXWRIVWDWHWRJDWKHU
VLJQDWXUHVEHFDXVHWKH\SURGXFHEHWWHUUHVXOWV65DQGLQWKHFDVHRI
in Oklahoma politics, 2NODKRPDEHFDXVHRIDGHDUWKRIH[SHULHQFHGSHWLWLRQFLUFXODWRUV66
when out-of-state 7KHFKDOOHQJHZDVREYLRXVO\ZHOOIRXQGHGVLQFHLWZDVEDVHGRQD
GHFLVLRQE\WKHVDPHFRXUWWKDWVWUXFNGRZQD&RORUDGRFLW\¶VEDQRQ
opponents of the SHWLWLRQLQJE\QRQUHVLGHQWV
initiative routinely (GPRQGVRQK\SRFULWLFDOO\FODLPHGWKDWKHKDGQRFKRLFHEXWWR
SURVHFXWHWKH2NODKRPD7KUHHVD\LQJ³>:@H¶UHFKDUJHGZLWKHQIRUFLQJ
harassed the petition WKHODZVWKDWDUHRQWKHERRNV´68%XWDVThe Wall Street JournalQRWHG
gatherers, without >(@YHU\SURVHFXWRUKDVWRPDNHMXGJPHQWFDOOVDERXWKRZWRGHSOR\OLPLWHG
PDQSRZHU$QGLQRWKHUDUHDV0U(GPRQGVRQKDVRSWHGQRWWRDFWZKLOH
Edmondson or anyone OHJDOFKDOOHQJHVDUHSHQGLQJ8SRQOHDUQLQJWKDWWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWKDG
else questioning DJUHHGWRUHYLHZDFKDOOHQJHWRWKHGHDWKSHQDOW\IRUH[DPSOHKHUHFHQWO\
UHTXHVWHGWKDWDOOH[HFXWLRQVEHKDOWHGXQWLOWKH+LJK&RXUWVSHDNV
their right to come
into the state to do so. 3. Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut
7KHWKLUGZRUVWVWDWHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOLQWKHQDWLRQLV5LFKDUG%OXPHQWKDO
$OHIWZLQJLGHRORJXHZKRKDVXVHGWKHSRZHURIKLVRI¿FHWRVSUHDG
ODUJHVVHWRFURQLHV%OXPHQWKDOZDVUDWHGWKHQDWLRQ¶VZRUVWDWWRUQH\
JHQHUDOLQRXU-DQXDU\UDWLQJV%OXPHQWKDOKDVQRWJRWWHQDQ\EHWWHU
VLQFHWKHQEXWWKHFRPSHWLWLRQIRUZRUVW$*VHHPVWRKDYHJRWWHQ¿HUFHU

The Tobacco Racket

%OXPHQWKDOPRUHWKDQDQ\ERG\HOVHLVUHVSRQVLEOHIRUWKHPXOWLVWDWHDFW
RIFRUUXSWLRQDQGFDUWHOLVPNQRZQDVWKH0DVWHU6HWWOHPHQW$JUHHPHQW
ZKLFKKHQHJRWLDWHGDORQJZLWK2NODKRPDVWDWH$*'UHZ(GPRQGVRQ
:HDOWK\WULDOODZ\HUVDFURVVWKHQDWLRQUHFHLYHGELOOLRQQDWLRQDOO\LQ
DWWRUQH\V¶IHHVXQGHUDELOOLRQSOXVVHWWOHPHQWSDLGIRUSULPDULO\

 Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General

E\VPRNHUV²WKHDOOHJHGYLFWLPVRIWKHVXSSRVHGIUDXGWKDWEHJDWWKH
VHWWOHPHQW
7KHVHWWOHPHQWZDVVWUXFWXUHGWRDOORZWKHPDMRUWREDFFR
FRPSDQLHVWRPDLQWDLQWKHLUPDUNHWVKDUHDQGUDLVHSULFHVLQXQLVRQ
LQRUGHUWRSDVVVHWWOHPHQWFRVWVRQWRVPRNHUV:RUNLQJWRJHWKHU As the federal appeals
VWDWHDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDODQGPDMRUWREDFFRFRPSDQLHVZHUHDOVRDEOHWR
IRUFHVPDOOHUWREDFFRFRPSDQLHVWKDWKDGQHYHUEHHQDFFXVHGRIDQ\ court with jurisdiction
IUDXGWRMRLQWKHVHWWOHPHQWRUSD\SHQDOWLHVIRUQRWGRLQJVR,QD over Connecticut
ZRUGWKHVHWWOHPHQWFUHDWHGDFDUWHOXQGHUPLQLQJIUHHFRPSHWLWLRQ$V
WKHIHGHUDODSSHDOVFRXUWZLWKMXULVGLFWLRQRYHU&RQQHFWLFXWREVHUYHG observed, had the
KDGWKHWREDFFRFRPSDQ\H[HFXWLYHVHQWHUHGLQWRDVLPLODUVHWWOHPHQW tobacco company
ZLWKRXWWKHFROOXVLRQRIWKHDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDO³WKH\ZRXOGORQJDJR
KDYHKDGGHSUHVVLQJFRQYHUVDWLRQVZLWKWKHLUDWWRUQH\VDERXWWKH executives entered into
8QLWHG6WDWHV6HQWHQFLQJ*XLGHOLQHV´%\JHWWLQJDVWDWHRI¿FLDOVXFK a similar settlement
DV%OXPHQWKDOWRVLJQWKHLUVHWWOHPHQWWKHWREDFFRFRPSDQLHVZHUH
DEOHWRFODLPWKDWWKHFDUWHOZDVH[HPSWIURPDQWLWUXVWODZVXQGHUD without the collusion of
ORRSKROHNQRZQDV³VWDWHDFWLRQ´LPPXQLW\ZKLFKH[HPSWVPDQ\ the attorneys general,
VWDWHUHFRJQL]HGFDUWHOVXQGHUWKHJHQHURXVDVVXPSWLRQWKDWVWDWH
RI¿FLDOVZRXOGQRWVLJQRIIRQDFDUWHOXQOHVVLWSURPRWHGWKH “they would long ago
SXEOLFLQWHUHVW have had depressing
7KHWREDFFRVHWWOHPHQWZDVMRLQHGE\VWDWHV²GXEEHG
³6HWWOLQJ6WDWHV´²EXWPDQ\RILWVSURYLVLRQVDSSO\QDWLRQDOO\WKXV conversations with
LPSRVLQJDPDMRUHQFURDFKPHQWRQVWDWHDXWRQRP\7KH06$UHTXLUHV their attorneys
WREDFFRFRPSDQLHVWKDWMRLQWKHVHWWOHPHQWWRPDNHSD\PHQWVWRWKH
6HWWOLQJ6WDWHVEDVHGRQWKHLUQDWLRQDOFLJDUHWWHVDOHVincluding sales in about the United
states that did not join the tobacco settlement:RUVHLWUHTXLUHVFRPSDQLHV States Sentencing
WKDWQHYHUMRLQHGWKHVHWWOHPHQWDJUHHPHQWWRPDNHSD\PHQWVHYHQWKRXJK
XQGHU$PHULFD¶VOHJDOV\VWHPFRXUWVHWWOHPHQWVDUHQRWVXSSRVHGWR Guidelines.”
DIIHFWWKHULJKWVRIQRQSDUWLHV0RUHRYHUVXFKFRPSDQLHVPXVWPDNH
SD\PHQWVRQDQ\RIWKHLUFLJDUHWWHVWKDWHQGXSLQWKH6HWWOLQJ6WDWHV
HYHQFLJDUHWWHVUHVROGwithout their knowledgeE\WKLUGSDUWLHVLQD
6HWWOLQJ6WDWH
$PLGDOOWKHVRUGLGQHVVRIWKHWREDFFRGHDO%OXPHQWKDO
SHUVRQDOO\VWHHUHGPLOOLRQLQIHHVWRKLVRZQDOOLHVDQGWKHDVVRFLDWHV
RIIRUPHU&RQQHFWLFXW*RYHUQRU-RKQ5RZODQGZKRZDVODWHUFRQYLFWHG
RIFRUUXSWLRQLQDQXQUHODWHGPDWWHU%OXPHQWKDOKDGJRQHWKURXJK
WKHPRWLRQVRIVROLFLWLQJOHWWHUVIURP¿UPVVHHNLQJWRUHSUHVHQWWKH
VWDWHLQWKHODZVXLWDJDLQVWPDMRUWREDFFRFRPSDQLHV+HVHOHFWHGIRXU

Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General 11

 RI¿UPVWKDWH[SUHVVHGLQWHUHVW7KHWKUHH&RQQHFWLFXWEDVHG¿UPV
LQFOXGHG
As attorney general,
Blumenthal has
%OXPHQWKDO¶VRZQIRUPHUODZ¿UP6LOYHU*ROXE 7HLWHOO
LQ6WDPIRUGZKHUHKHZRUNHGIRUVL[\HDUVSULRUWREHFRPLQJ
$WWRUQH\*HQHUDO3DUWQHU'DYLG6*ROXELVDORQJWLPHIULHQG
DQGODZVFKRROFODVVPDWHRI%OXPHQWKDO¶V
supported meritless, (PPHW *ODQGHULQ6WDPIRUGZKRVHQDPHSDUWQHU
.DWKU\Q(PPHWLVPDUULHGWRSDUWQHU'DYLG*ROXERI6LOYHU
politically motivated *ROXE 7HLWHOODQG
lawsuits.
&DUPRG\ 7RUUDQFHRI:DWHUEXU\ZKRVHPDQDJLQJ
SDUWQHU-DPHV.5REHUWVRQVHUYHGDVSHUVRQDOFRXQVHODQG
FRXQVHORUWRWKHODWHUFRQYLFWHG*RYHUQRU-RKQ5RZODQG

2WKHU¿UPVWKDWELGIRUWKHOLWLJDWLRQSXEOLFO\FRPSODLQHGWKDWWKH\
GLGQRWKDYHDIDLUFKDQFHDWWKHFRQWUDFW)RUH[DPSOH5REHUW5HDUGRQ
RI1HZ/RQGRQDIRUPHUSUHVLGHQWRIWKH&RQQHFWLFXW7ULDO/DZ\HUV
$VVRFLDWLRQUHSRUWHGO\FRXOGQRWHYHQJHWLQWKHGRRUIRUDPHHWLQJ
GHVSLWHUHSHDWHGHIIRUWV
7KHFRQWLQJHQF\IHHVWKHVHODZ\HUVUHFHLYHGSUREDEO\YLRODWHG
WKH&RQQHFWLFXWVWDWHFRQVWLWXWLRQDQGVWDWHODZ)LUVWWKHFRQWLQJHQF\
IHHZDVQRWDXWKRUL]HGE\WKHOHJLVODWXUHZKLFKKDVWKHH[FOXVLYHSRZHU
WRDSSURSULDWHIXQGV&RQQHFWLFXWFRXUWVKDYHFRQVLVWHQWO\KHOGWKDWWKH
SRZHUWRVSHQGRUUHFHLYHVWDWHIXQGVUHVWVVROHO\ZLWKWKHOHJLVODWXUH
6HFRQGWKHIHHVDWLVVXHZHUHSDLGZLWKPRQH\WKDWZDVWKHSURSHUW\RIWKH
6WDWHRI&RQQHFWLFXW81&RQQHFWLFXWODZWUHDWVDOOIXQGVUHFRYHUHGLQDOHJDO
FDVHDVWKHSURSHUW\RIWKHFOLHQWQRWKLVODZ\HU7KXVWKHVWDWH6XSUHPH
&RXUWKHOGWKDWWKHFRVWVDZDUGHGLQDODZVXLWEHORQJWRWKHSDUW\LQZKRVH
IDYRUWKH\DUHWD[HGDQGQRWWRKLVDWWRUQH\830RUHRYHUWKHFRQWLQJHQF\
IHHDUUDQJHPHQWHQGRUVHGE\%OXPHQWKDOZDVSDWHQWO\XQHWKLFDOEHFDXVH
LWJDYHODZ\HUVIRUWKHVWDWHDPHUFHQDU\PRWLYHIRUPD[LPL]LQJWKHVWDWH¶V
PRQHWDU\UHFRYHU\UHJDUGOHVVRIWKHSXEOLFLQWHUHVW84
$VDWWRUQH\JHQHUDO%OXPHQWKDOKDVDOVRVXSSRUWHGRWKHUPHULWOHVV
SROLWLFDOO\PRWLYDWHGODZVXLWV)RUH[DPSOHKH¿OHGDQDPLFXVEULHILQ
IDYRURIDODZVXLWDJDLQVWJXQPDNHUV²PRVWIURPRXWRIVWDWH²IRUFULPHV
FRPPLWWHGE\WKLUGSDUWLHV7KHODZVXLWUHMHFWHGE\WKHVWDWH6XSUHPH
&RXUWZRXOGKDYHFLUFXPYHQWHGOLPLWVRQWRUWODZE\GUDPDWLFDOO\
H[SDQGLQJQXLVDQFHODZDQGXQGHUPLQLQJLQGLYLGXDOUHVSRQVLELOLW\85

 Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General

0RUHRYHUWKHVXLWWDUJHWHGRXWRIVWDWHEXVLQHVVHVWKDWDUHQRW
SURSHUO\VXEMHFWWR&RQQHFWLFXWODZ,WVKRXOGEHQRWHGWKDWWKHJXQ
VDOHVZHUHODZIXO
6LPLODUO\%OXPHQWKDOEDFNHGIRUPHU1HZ<RUN$WWRUQH\*HQHUDO
SSLW]HU¶VODZVXLWDJDLQVW:HVWHUQ8QLRQ:HVWHUQ8QLRQZDVVXHGDIWHU Blumenthal has
IRUHLJQVZLQGOHUVXVHGLWWRVHQGWHOHJUDPVi.e.,³0LOOLRQVDUH7UDSSHG
LQ1LJHULDZH¶OOJLYH\RXVRPHRIWKHPLOOLRQVEXWZHQHHG attacked private
¿UVW´7KH$*VIRUFHG:HVWHUQ8QLRQWRVHWWOHDQGSD\PRUHWKDQ property rights,
PLOOLRQIRU³QDWLRQDOSHHUFRXQVHOLQJSURJUDPV´UXQE\WKHLUSROLWLFDODOO\
$$53869LFWLPVRIIUDXGUHFHLYHGQRWKLQJDQGWKHVHWWOHPHQWDSSOLHV including advocating
QDWLRQDOO\HYHQRXWVLGHWKHVWDWHVWKDWMRLQHGLW888QGHUWKHORJLFRIWKH that private homes
ODZVXLWDJDLQVW:HVWHUQ8QLRQRQHFRXOGVXHWKHSKRQHFRPSDQ\IRUIUDXG
FRPPLWWHGXVLQJWKHWHOHSKRQH be subject to
%OXPHQWKDOKDVIUHTXHQWO\VXSSRUWHGUDFLDOTXRWDVDQG government seizure
XQFRQVWLWXWLRQDOUHVWULFWLRQVRQVSHHFK+HKDVDOVRDWWDFNHGSULYDWH
SURSHUW\ULJKWVLQFOXGLQJDGYRFDWLQJWKDWSULYDWHKRPHVEHVXEMHFWWR for use by private
JRYHUQPHQWVHL]XUHIRUXVHE\SULYDWHGHYHORSHUV developers.
4. Patrick Lynch, Rhode Island
7KHIRXUWKZRUVWVWDWHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOLQ$PHULFDLV3DWULFN/\QFK
DWWRUQH\JHQHUDORI5KRGH,VODQGVLQFH-DQXDU\/\QFKFRQWLQXHGD
QXLVDQFHVXLWDJDLQVWSDLQWFRPSDQLHV¿OHGE\KLVSUHGHFHVVRULQ
WKDWZDVODWHUWKURZQRXWDVPHULWOHVVE\WKH5KRGH,VODQG6XSUHPH
&RXUW$VWKDW&RXUWUHFHQWO\REVHUYHG/\QFKVRXJKWWRUHGH¿QHWKH
FRQFHSWRIDQXLVDQFHVREURDGO\WKDW³QXLVDQFHODZZRXOGEHFRPHDPRQVWHU
WKDWZRXOGGHYRXULQRQHJXOSWKHHQWLUHODZRUWRUW´DQGHYLVFHUDWHUDWLRQDO
ERXQGDULHVRQSURGXFWOLDELOLW\/\QFK¶VODZVXLWVRXJKWWRFLUFXPYHQW
OHJLVODWLRQWKDWSODFHGWKHEXUGHQRQSURSHUW\RZQHUVQRWSDLQWFRPSDQLHV
WRPDNHWKHLUSURSHUWLHVOHDGVDIH
%\SURVHFXWLQJWKHPXOWLELOOLRQGROODUVXLW/\QFKHPSRZHUHG
WULDOODZ\HUVZKRGRQDWHGWRKLVFDPSDLJQWRVHHNKXQGUHGVRIPLOOLRQV
RIGROODUVLQFRQWLQJHQF\IHHV7KHVXLWODXQFKHGE\KLVSUHGHFHVVRU
QRZ6HQDWRU6KHOGRQ:KLWHKRXVHVRXJKWWRKROGRXWRIVWDWHSDLQW
FRPSDQLHVOLDEOHEDVHGRQWKHLUODZIXOVDOHVRIOHDGSDLQWGHFDGHV
HDUOLHU7RPD[LPL]HWKHLUSRWHQWLDOOHJDOIHHVKHDOORZHGWKHPWRVHHN
WKHPRVWH[WUDYDJDQWUHPHG\SRVVLEOHHYHQWKRXJKFKHDSHUUHPHGLHV
ZRXOGGRPRUHWRSURWHFWSXEOLFKHDOWK+HWKHQSRFNHWHGPRUHFDPSDLJQ
FRQWULEXWLRQVIURPWKRVHODZ\HUVDVZHOODVIURPODZ\HUVIRUSDLQW
FRPSDQLHVVHHNLQJVSHFLDOVHWWOHPHQWWHUPV

Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General 13

 $MXU\YHUGLFWVXEVHTXHQWO\UHYHUVHGE\WKH5KRGH,VODQG
6XSUHPH&RXUWKHOGWKUHHOHDGSDLQWFRPSDQLHVOLDEOHIRUDSXEOLF
QXLVDQFHRUGHULQJWKHPWRUHPRYHOHDGSDLQWIURPPRUHWKDQ
KRPHVDQGRSHQLQJWKHGRRUWRWKHPEHLQJ³IRUFHGWRSD\RXWELOOLRQVRI
GROODUVLQGDPDJHV´7KHMXGJHDOORZHGWKHFRPSDQLHVWREHVXHGIRUYDVW
VXPVHYHQWKRXJKWKH\KDGUHPRYHGWKHOHDGIURPWKHLUSDLQWORQJEHIRUH
WKHJRYHUQPHQWEDQQHGLW0RUHRYHUWKHOHDGSDLQWFRPSDQLHVZKLFK
ZHUHIURPRXWRIVWDWHZHUHKHOGOLDEOHWR5KRGH,VODQGZLWKRXWDQ\SURRI
WKDWWKHOHDGSDLQWWKH\VROGHQGHGXSRQDQ\EXLOGLQJVFXUUHQWO\VWDQGLQJ
LQ5KRGH,VODQG As The Providence JournalQRWHGLQDQHGLWRULDO
7KHUHVXOWLQJ5KRGH,VODQGYHUGLFWPDNHVDPRFNHU\RIWKH
EDVLFSULQFLSOHVRIWRUWODZ7\SLFDOO\WRZLQDODZVXLWWKHUH
QHHGVWREHDQLQMXUHGSDUW\1RWKHUHZKHUHQRWDVLQJOHLQMXUHG
SDUW\²RUDVLQJOHKRXVHFRQVWLWXWLQJD³QXLVDQFH´²PDGHLWLQWR
WKHHYLGHQFH7\SLFDOO\IRUOLDELOLW\DSODLQWLIIQHHGVWRVKRZ
WKDWWKHGHIHQGDQWFDXVHGLWVKDUP1RWKHUHZKHUHWKHMXGJH
LQVWUXFWHGWKHMXU\WKDWLWFRXOG¿QGWKHGHIHQGDQWVJXLOW\ZLWKRXW
HYHQ¿QGLQJWKDWDQ\RIWKHSDLQWFRPSDQLHVKDGPDQXIDFWXUHG
DQ\SDLQWDFWXDOO\XVHGLQWKHVWDWH

5DWLI\LQJDGHFLVLRQPDGHE\KLVSUHGHFHVVRU6KHOGRQ:KLWHKRXVH
/\QFKFRQWUDFWHGRXWWKHVWDWH¶VOLWLJDWLRQZRUNWRWKH0RWOH\ODZ¿UP
ZKRVHPHPEHUVDQGWKHLUUHODWLYHVJDYH/\QFKWKRXVDQGVRIGROODUVLQ
FDPSDLJQFRQWULEXWLRQVDQGKDGEHFDPHWKHODUJHVWGRQRULQ5KRGH,VODQG
SROLWLFV7KHLUGRQRUVLQFOXGHGDPRQJRWKHUV-RKQ-³-DFN´0F&RQQHOO
WKHOHDGODZ\HULQWKHOHDGSDLQWODZVXLWZKRJDYHDWOHDVWWR/\QFK
DQGKLVZLIH6DUD6KHD0F&RQQHOOZKRDOVRJDYHWR/\QFKRQ
H[DFWO\WKHVDPHGDWHVDVKHUKXVEDQG0F&RQQHOOLVDOVRDPDMRUGRQRUWR
WKH5KRGH,VODQG'HPRFUDWLF3DUW\ZKLFKEDFNV/\QFK
/\QFKDOVRUHFHLYHGPRQH\IRUKLVRZQSROLWLFDOEHQH¿WIURPWKRVH
KHVXHG+HDFFHSWHGFDPSDLJQFRQWULEXWLRQVIURPDODZ\HUIRU'X3RQW
ZKLOHKHZDVQHJRWLDWLQJWRGURSWKHFRPSDQ\IURPWKHVWDWH¶VOHDGSDLQW
ODZVXLWLQFOXGLQJIURPWKHDWWRUQH\DQGDWRWDORIIURP
RWKHUVWLHGWR'X3RQW$IWHUUHFHLYLQJWKHLUGRQDWLRQV/\QFKHQWHUHG
LQWRDGHDOZLWK'X3RQWWKDWDOORZHGWKHFRPSDQ\WRHVFDSHOLDELOLW\
LQH[FKDQJHIRUDGRQDWLRQWRDFKDULW\WKDWWKHFRPSDQ\LWVHOIVHWXS
HYHQDVKHFRQWLQXHGWRVHHNELOOLRQVRIGROODUVIURPWKHRWKHUOHDGSDLQW
FRPSDQLHV$QRQSDUWLVDQHWKLFVZDWFKGRJREVHUYHGWKDW/\QFK¶V
FRQGXFW³GRHVQRWSDVVWKHVPHOOWHVW´

14 Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General

 7KHFRQWLQJHQF\IHHDUUDQJHPHQWEHWZHHQ/\QFK¶VRI¿FHDQG
WKH0RWOH\ODZ¿UPKDQGOLQJWKHVXLWDJDLQVWWKHOHDGSDLQWPDNHUV
ZDVFULWLFL]HGE\OHJDOFRPPHQWDWRUVZKRDUJXHGWKDWLWYLRODWHGODZV
UHTXLULQJWKDWDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVUHFRYHUHGE\WKHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOEHSDLG
EDFNLQWRWKHVWDWHWUHDVXU\WKDWWKHOHJLVODWXUHDXWKRUL]HDQ\SD\PHQWVWR A non-partisan ethics
DWWRUQH\VDFWLQJRQEHKDOIRIWKHVWDWHWKURXJKWKHDSSURSULDWLRQVSURFHVV
DQGWKDWDWWRUQH\VZRUNLQJRQEHKDOIRIWKHVWDWHQRW¿QDQFLDOO\SUR¿WIURP watchdog observed
DODZVXLW7KH5KRGH,VODQG6XSUHPH&RXUWODWHUUXOHGWKDWWKHDWWRUQH\ that Lynch’s conduct
JHQHUDOLVQRWSURKLELWHGE\VWDWHODZIURPHQWHULQJLQWRFRQWLQJHQF\IHH
DJUHHPHQWVDOWKRXJKLWFDXWLRQHGWKDWVXFKSURYLVLRQVPXVWEHFDUHIXOO\ “does not pass the
UHYLHZHGDQGDSSURYHGE\WKHFRXUWVEHIRUHDQ\SD\PHQWVDUHPDGHWR smell test.”
JXDUGDJDLQVWH[FHVVLYHQHVVRUHWKLFDOEUHDFKHV)
7KHFRQWLQJHQF\IHHDOVRFUHDWHGDVHULRXVFRQÀLFWRILQWHUHVW,W
ZDVLQWKHLQWHUHVWRIWKHODZ\HUVKDQGOLQJWKHFDVHIRU5KRGH,VODQGWR
PD[LPL]HDQ\GDPDJHDZDUGSDLGE\WKHGHIHQGDQW²WKHODUJHUWKHDZDUG
WKHODUJHUWKHIHHWKH\ZLOOUHFHLYH$GDPDJHDZDUGEDVHGRQWKHFRVWRI
UHPRYLQJDOOOHDGSDLQWZRXOGEHYDVWO\ODUJHUWKDQDQDZDUGEDVHGRQWKH
FRVWRIHQVXULQJWKDWSDLQWHGVXUIDFHVRQROGHUEXLOGLQJVDUHNHSWLQWDFW
$V5KRGH,VODQGSROLWLFDOFRPPHQWDWRU&DUUROO$QGUHZ0RUVHQRWHV³7KH
GHFLVLRQRIWKH0RWOH\ODZ¿UPWRVHHNWKHIRUPHUUHPHG\²GHVSLWHWKH
YLHZVRIYLUWXDOO\DOOVFLHQWLVWVWKDWWKHODWWHUUHPHG\LVIDUEHWWHUIURPD
SXEOLFKHDOWKVWDQGSRLQW²FDQRQO\EHH[SODLQHGE\WKHDWWRUQH\V¶¿QDQFLDO
LQWHUHVWLQPD[LPL]LQJWKHLURZQIHHV,QRWKHUZRUGVVLQFHFRQWLQJHQF\
IHHODZ\HUVDUHFRPSHQVDWHGEDVHGRIGDPDJHVDZDUGHGWKH\KDYHDQ
LQFHQWLYHWRDGYRFDWHLQWKHQDPHRIWKHVWDWHIRUZKDWHYHULVPRVW
H[SHQVLYHQRWIRUZKDWLVPRVWHIIHFWLYH´
(QJDJLQJLQJUDQGVWDQGLQJ/\QFKPDGHLQWHPSHUDWHUHPDUNV
LQWKHOHDGSDLQWOLWLJDWLRQDQGZDVUHSHDWHGO\VDQFWLRQHGIRUFRQWHPSW
RIFRXUWE\WKHWULDOFRXUWZKLFKLPSRVHGLQVDQFWLRQV7KH
5KRGH,VODQG6XSUHPH&RXUWODWHUUXOHGWKDWUHJDUGOHVVRIZKHWKHU/\QFK¶V
UHPDUNVZHUHLQDSSURSULDWHRUFRQVWLWXWLRQDOO\SURWHFWHGWKH\GLGQRW
YLRODWHWKHFOHDUWHUPVRIDQ\SUHH[LVWLQJFRXUWRUGHUDQGWKXVFRXOGQRW
EHSXQLVKHGDVFRQWHPSWRIFRXUW)
$WWKHHQGRIWKHGD\/\QFK¶VOHDGSDLQWODZVXLWDFKLHYHGQRWKLQJ
RWKHUWKDQZDVWHWKRXVDQGVRIKRXUVRIDWWRUQH\WLPHDQGJLYH5KRGH
,VODQGDUHSXWDWLRQIRUKDYLQJDEDGOHJDOFOLPDWH²DELJGLVLQFHQWLYHIRU
EXVLQHVVHVWRPRYHWKHUHDQGFUHDWHMREV/\QFKKDVDOVREHHQDPDMRU
SDUWLFLSDQWLQPXOWLVWDWHODZVXLWVWKDWVHHNWRUHJXODWHFRQGXFWRFFXUULQJ
ZKROO\RXWVLGH5KRGH,VODQG

Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General 15

 5. Darrell McGraw, West Virginia
'DUUHOO0F*UDZDWWRUQH\JHQHUDORI:HVW9LUJLQLDVLQFH-DQXDU\KDV
YLRODWHGWKHPRVWEDVLFGXW\RIKLVRI¿FHWRGHIHQGWKHVWDWHLQFRXUW,Q
KHEURXJKWDODZVXLWDJDLQVWVWDWHDJHQFLHVWKDWZDVVHWWOHGDWDFRVW
McGraw hired lawyers WRWD[SD\HUVRIPRUHWKDQPLOOLRQDOORIZKLFKZDVSRFNHWHGE\WKH
WULDOODZ\HUZKRP0F*UDZKLUHGWREULQJWKHVXLW
on a contingency fee to 0F*UDZDOVRKDVUHJXODUO\GLYHUWHGPRQH\UHFRYHUHGE\WKHVWDWH
sue tobacco companies IURPOHJDOVHWWOHPHQWVWRIULHQGVDQGDOOLHV111HQGDQJHULQJ:HVW9LUJLQLD¶V
0HGLFDLGIXQGLQJLQWKHSURFHVV As The West Virginia RecordQRWHVKH
in 1995. In response, UHJXODUO\KLUHV³ODZ\HUVZKRDUHDOVRKLVIDLWKIXOFDPSDLJQFRQWULEXWRUV
KHZDVVSHFL¿FDOO\ 7KHVHDSSRLQWPHQWVPRVWRIWHQPDGHZLWKRXWDQRSHQDQGSXEOLFSURFHVV
KDYHKHOSHGHDUQRXWVLGHOHJDO¿UPVKXJHVXPVRIPRQH\LQSDUWQHUVKLS
told by the state judge ZLWKWKHSRZHUIXORI¿FHRI$WWRUQH\*HQHUDO´1137KLVFURQ\LVPDQGKLV
handling the state’s GLYHUVLRQRIODZVXLWVVHWWOHPHQWVDUHNH\UHDVRQVZK\:HVW9LUJLQLDKDV
EHHQUDWHGDVWKHQDWLRQ¶VZRUVW³MXGLFLDOKHOOKROH´E\WKH$PHULFDQ7RUW
tobacco lawsuit that 5HIRUP$VVRFLDWLRQ114
paying contingency 0F*UDZDSSRLQWHGWULDOODZ\HU7KRPDV*DOORZD\DVVSHFLDO
DVVLVWDQWDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOWREULQJDFRQWLQJHQF\IHHODZVXLWDJDLQVW:HVW
fees to lawyers hired 9LUJLQLD¶V%XUHDXRI(PSOR\PHQW3URJUDPVZKLFKHQGHGZKHQWKHVWDWH
to represent the state SDLG*DOORZD\DPLOOLRQIHHLQH[FKDQJHIRUGLVPLVVLQJWKHVXLW115
7KHVWDWHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOLVVXSSRVHGWRGHIHQGVWDWHDJHQFLHVIURPVXLW
was illegal. But he QRWVXHWKHPIRUWKHEHQH¿WRIKLVWULDOODZ\HUDOOLHV7KH:HVW9LUJLQLD
went ahead and did it 6XSUHPH&RXUWQRWHGWKDWWKHUHKDVEHHQ³DQRUGHURIWKLVFRXUWGLUHFWLQJ
WKHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOWRH[SODLQZK\KHKDVQRWUHSUHVHQWHG:HVW9LUJLQLD´
anyway. LQWKDWYHU\FDVHEXWWKDWKH¿OHGDQRQUHVSRQVLYHHYDVLYHDQVZHU116,W
LVLQWHUHVWLQJWRQRWHWKDWWKHSODLQWLII¶VFRXQVHOLQWKLVFDVHGRQDWHGWR
0F*UDZ¶VDQGFDPSDLJQV7KHFRQWLQJHQF\IHHV0F*UDZ
DXWKRUL]HGZHUHWKHPVHOYHVSUREDEO\LOOHJDOXQGHU:HVW9LUJLQLDODZ118
,QVLPLODUIDVKLRQ0F*UDZKLUHGODZ\HUVRQDFRQWLQJHQF\IHHWR
VXHWREDFFRFRPSDQLHVLQ,QUHVSRQVHKHZDVVSHFL¿FDOO\WROGE\
WKHVWDWHMXGJHKDQGOLQJWKHVWDWH¶VWREDFFRODZVXLWWKDWSD\LQJFRQWLQJHQF\
IHHVWRODZ\HUVKLUHGWRUHSUHVHQWWKHVWDWHZDVLOOHJDO%XWKHZHQW
DKHDGDQGGLGLWDQ\ZD\SD\LQJWKHWULDOODZ\HUVKHKLUHGPLOOLRQ
LQFOXGLQJPLOOLRQWRDQDWWRUQH\ZKREDUHO\GLGDQ\ZRUNDQG
HYHQWKRXJKWKH/HJLVODWLYH$XGLWRU¶VRI¿FHVSHFL¿FDOO\TXHVWLRQHGWKH
SD\PHQWVGRXEWLQJ0F*UDZ¶V³DXWKRULW\WRHQWHULQWRWKHVHWWOHPHQW´
0F*UDZDXWKRUL]HGWKHVHPLOOLRQVLQSD\PHQWVZLWKRXWHYHQWHOOLQJ
WKHVWDWHOHJLVODWXUHHYHQWKRXJKVWDWHODZVSHFL¿FDOO\OLPLWVDQ\
FRPSHQVDWLRQIRUODZ\HUVKLUHGE\WKHVWDWHWR³DPRXQWVDSSURSULDWHGE\

16 Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General

WKH/HJLVODWXUH´/DWHU0F*UDZDOORZHGODZ\HUVZKRKDGFRQWULEXWHG
WRKLVFDPSDLJQWRUHDSDOPRVWPLOOLRQLQIHHVDIWHUWKH\KHOSHGWKHVWDWH
REWDLQDPLOOLRQVHWWOHPHQWIURPWZRFUHGLWFDUGFRPSDQLHV$QG
KHKLUHGDFDPSDLJQFRQWULEXWRUDVDVSHFLDODVVLVWDQWDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOWR
EULQJDFRQWLQJHQF\IHHODZVXLWDJDLQVWWZRGUXJFRPSDQLHV McGraw has used
0F*UDZKDVXVHGRWKHUFRXUWVHWWOHPHQWVDVKLVRZQSROLWLFDO
VOXVKIXQGVRRIWHQWKDWThe Charleston Daily MailVXPPHGKLPXSDV³D other court settlements
ODZ\HUZKRVXHVRQEHKDOIRIDFOLHQWVHWWOHVRXWRIFRXUWDQGNHHSVWKH as his own political
PRQH\´)RUH[DPSOHLQKHWRRNDPLOOLRQVHWWOHPHQWIURP
3XUGXH3KDUPDGHFLGHGWKDWKHGLGQRWQHHGWRWXUQLWRYHUWRWKHVWDWH slush fund, so often
WUHDVXU\DQGKDVEHHQGROLQJRXWWKHGROODUVKLPVHOIHYHUVLQFH)HGHUDO that 7KH&KDUOHVWRQ
0HGLFDLGRI¿FLDOVZHUHXQKDSS\WKDWWKHPRQH\GLGQRWJREDFNLQWR:HVW
9LUJLQLD¶V0HGLFDLGSURJUDPDQGWKUHDWHQHGWRZLWKKROGIHGHUDOIXQGVIURP 'DLO\0DLO summed
WKHVWDWH$QGKLVGROLQJRXWPRQH\WRKLVWULDOODZ\HUIULHQGVPD\DOVR him up as “a lawyer
YLRODWHUXOHVDJDLQVWSD\LQJFRQWLQJHQF\IHHVWRODZ\HUVKLUHGE\WKHVWDWH
0F*UDZVXHG3XUGXH3KDUPDRQEHKDOIRIVWDWH0HGLFDLGDQG who sues on behalf
ZRUNHUVFRPSHQVDWLRQSURJUDPVDOOHJLQJWKDWWKHFRPSDQ\KDGIDLOHGWR of a client, settles
ZDUQDERXWWKHDGGLFWLYHTXDOLWLHVRI2[\FRQWLQ%XWWKHVWDWHDJHQFLHVLQ
ZKRVHQDPH0F*UDZVXHGUHFHLYHGYLUWXDOO\QRQHRIWKHVHWWOHPHQW out of court, and
,QGHHGLQYLRODWLRQRIVWDWHHWKLFVUXOHVWKH\ZHUHQRWHYHQLQIRUPHGLQ keeps the money.”
DGYDQFHRIWKHVHWWOHPHQWE\WKHLUODZ\HUWKHVWDWHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDO
2XWRIWKHVHWWOHPHQWPLOOLRQZHQWWRDWWRUQH\V¶IHHVIRU0F*UDZ¶V
WULDOODZ\HUIULHQGVHYHQWKRXJKWKDWZDVFRQWUDU\WRDVWDWHFRXUWUXOLQJ
ZKLFKXSKHOGD:HVW9LUJLQLDODZWKDWEDUVFRQWLQJHQF\IHHVWRODZ\HUV
KLUHGE\WKHVWDWHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDO7KHEDODQFHRIWKHVHWWOHPHQWZHQW
DFFRUGLQJWRThe Charleston Gazette,³PRVWO\WRKHOSEXLOGDSKDUPDF\
VFKRRODQGWRIXQGFRPPXQLW\FRUUHFWLRQVSURJUDPV´1312QHKXQGUHG
HLJKW\WKRXVDQGGROODUVZHQWWRDQXUVLQJSURJUDPUXQE\WKHZLIHRIWKH
6WDWH6HQDWHSUHVLGHQWZKLOHZHQWWRDSULYDWHXQDFFUHGLWHG
SKDUPDF\VFKRRO1330RUHRYHU0F*UDZKDVDSSDUHQWO\SDLGQRKHHGWR
SURYLVLRQVLQWKHVHWWOHPHQWUHTXLULQJWKDWKHFRQVXOWZLWK3XUGXH3KDUPD
EHIRUHGLVEXUVLQJIXQGVIURPWKHVHWWOHPHQW134
/DZPDNHUVKDYHFULWLFL]HG0F*UDZ¶VIDLOXUHWRUHWXUQWKH
VHWWOHPHQWPRQH\WRWKHVWDWHWUHDVXU\DVDYLRODWLRQRIWKHVWDWH
FRQVWLWXWLRQDQGDQLPSURSHUXVHRIWD[SD\HUPRQH\1350F*UDZ¶VFULWLFV
LQFOXGHIHOORZ'HPRFUDWDQG+RXVH)LQDQFH&RPPLWWHH&KDLUPDQ+DUROG
0LFKDHO'HOHJDWH(XVWDFH)UHGHULFN'0HUFHUDQG6HQDWRU$QG\
0F.HQ]LH52KLRDVZHOODVOHJDOFRPPHQWDWRUV136+DGWKHVHWWOHPHQW
EHHQSDLGEDFNLQWRWKHVWDWHWUHDVXU\UDWKHUWKDQGROHGRXWWR0F*UDZ¶V

Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General 

 IULHQGVLWPLJKWKDYHUHVXOWHGLQWKHVWDWHUHFHLYLQJDVPXFKDVPLOOLRQ
LQIHGHUDOPDWFKLQJIXQGV
&ULWLFVDOVRKDYHUDLVHGTXHVWLRQVDERXWZKHWKHU0F*UDZ¶V
GLYHUVLRQRIWKHVHWWOHPHQWPRQH\DZD\IURP0HGLFDLGYLRODWHVIHGHUDO
Few state attorneys ODZVDJDLQVW0HGLFDLGIUDXG1387KDWUHVXOWHGLQDIHGHUDOSUREHRI
0F*UDZ¶VKDQGOLQJRIWKH3XUGXH3KDUPDVHWWOHPHQWDUXOLQJE\
general have done D'HSDUWPHQWRI+HDOWKDQG+XPDQ6HUYLFHVDSSHDOERDUGWKDWWKH
more damage to the IHGHUDOJRYHUQPHQWLVHQWLWOHGWRUHFRYHUPRQH\IURPWKH6WDWHRI:HVW
9LUJLQLDGHPDQGVIRUPRQH\E\IHGHUDORI¿FLDOVIURPVHYHUDO0F*UDZ
fabric of the law than VHWWOHPHQWV141DQGWKUHDWVE\WKHIHGHUDOJRYHUQPHQWWRZLWKKROGIXWXUH
William Sorrell. SD\PHQWVWR:HVW9LUJLQLD¶V0HGLFDLGSURJUDP
0F*UDZWRRN:HVW9LUJLQLDLQWRWKHPXOWLVWDWH0DVWHU6HWWOHPHQW
$JUHHPHQWZKLFKUHVXOWHGLQZHDOWK\WULDOODZ\HUVUHFHLYLQJELOOLRQLQ
DWWRUQH\V¶IHHV143XQGHUDELOOLRQSOXVVHWWOHPHQWSDLGIRUSULPDULO\E\
VPRNHUVZKRZHUHWKHDOOHJHGYLFWLPVRIWKHYHU\IUDXGWKDWVXSSRVHGO\
OHGWRWKHVHWWOHPHQW144
0F*UDZKDVKHOSHGKLVWULDOODZ\HUDOOLHVLQRWKHUZD\VVXFKDVE\
SHUVXDGLQJWKH:HVW9LUJLQLD6XSUHPH&RXUWWRFLUFXPYHQWWKHH[FOXVLYLW\
SURYLVLRQVRIVWDWHZRUNHUV¶FRPSHQVDWLRQODZVVRDVWRDOORZGXSOLFDWLYH
UHFRYHULHVE\HPSOR\HHV+H¿OHGDQDPLFXVEULHILQDFDVH¿OHGE\D
FDPSDLJQGRQRULQZKLFKDGLYLGHG:HVW9LUJLQLD6XSUHPH&RXUWUXOHG
WKDWDQHPSOR\HHFRXOGUHFRYHUXQGHUERWK:RUNHUV¶&RPSHQVDWLRQ/DZDQG
VWDWHKDQGLFDSGLVFULPLQDWLRQODZEDVHGRQLQMXULHVÀRZLQJIURPWKHYHU\
VDPHDFFLGHQWIRUZKLFKWKHHPSOR\HHKDVDOUHDG\EHHQFRPSHQVDWHGHYHQ
WKRXJK:RUNHUV¶&RPSHQVDWLRQDZDUGVDUHVXSSRVHGWREHH[FOXVLYH145
7KHVWDWH6XSUHPH&RXUW¶VSURSODLQWLIIUXOLQJVLQWKDWSHULRGJDYHWKHVWDWH
DODVWLQJUHSXWDWLRQDVD³WRUWKHOO´WKDWLVKRVWLOHWREXVLQHVV146 although
WKHVWDWHMXGLFLDU\LWVHOIKDVLPSURYHGVOLJKWO\VLQFHWKHQ

6. William Sorrell, Vermont

)HZVWDWHDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDOKDYHGRQHPRUHGDPDJHWRWKHIDEULFRIWKH
ODZWKDQ:LOOLDP6RUUHOORI9HUPRQWDSSRLQWHGE\WKHQ*RYHUQRU+RZDUG
'HDQLQ6KRUWO\DIWHUWDNLQJRI¿FH6RUUHOOGDQJOHGWKHSURVSHFWRI
PRQH\IRUVWDWHFRIIHUVLQIURQWRIWKHVWDWHOHJLVODWXUHZKLFKWKHQFKDQJHG
WKHODZWRPDNHWREDFFRFRPSDQLHVUHWURDFWLYHO\OLDEOHIRUWKHVWDWH¶V
0HGLFDLGELOOVLUUHVSHFWLYHRIWKHLULQGLYLGXDOJXLOWRULQQRFHQFHRIIUDXG
WRZDUGVVPRNHUV148:LWKWKHSOD\LQJ¿HOGVXGGHQO\WLOWHGDJDLQVWWKHPWKH
WREDFFRFRPSDQLHVVHWWOHGVRRQDIWHU6RUUHOOVXHGWKHPXQGHUWKHUHYLVHG

18 Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General

ODZ:HDOWK\WULDOODZ\HUVJRWDELJFXWRIWKHORRWIURPWKDWODZVXLWDQG
VPRNHUVHQGHGXSSD\LQJWKHWDE
$OPRVWDGHFDGHODWHU6RUUHOO¶VODZUHPDLQVDQH[WUHPHO\
GDQJHURXVSUHFHGHQWIRURWKHUEXVLQHVVHVZKRVHSURGXFWVFDQEHDOOHJHG
WRKDYHDQLOOHIIHFWRQSXEOLFKHDOWK8QGHUWKHORJLFRI6RUUHOO¶VODZ Sorrell’s bill severely
9HUPRQWEXVLQHVVHVFRXOGHDVLO\EHWDUJHWHGE\ODZ\HUVLQRWKHUVWDWHV
8QGHU6RUUHOO¶VODZWKHVWDWHFRXOGVXHWKHWREDFFRFRPSDQLHV undermined the
EDVHGQRWRQLQGLYLGXDOLQMXULHVRUORVVHVWRWKHVWDWH¶V0HGLFDLG principle of individual
SURJUDPEXWRQQDWLRQDOVWDWLVWLFVWKDWPD\RUPD\QRWEHFKDUDFWHULVWLF
RI9HUPRQW¶VRZQ0HGLFDLGH[SHQVHV$V-RKQ0F&ODXJKU\RI9HUPRQW¶V responsibility, by
(WKDQ$OOHQ,QVWLWXWHQRWHV³>,@IQDWLRQDOVWXGLHVVKRZWKDWVD\SHUFHQW holding a tobacco
RIDOO0HGLFDLGH[SHQGLWXUHVDUHVPRNLQJUHODWHGWKHQ9HUPRQWFRXOG
GHPDQGWKDWWKHWREDFFRLQGXVWU\SD\SHUFHQWRI9HUPRQW¶V0HGLFDLG company liable for
FRVWV\HDUDIWHU\HDU´HYHQWKRXJKIHZHUSHRSOHVPRNHLQ9HUPRQW a smoker’s injuries
WKDQLQPRVWVWDWHV151
0RUHLPSRUWDQWO\6RUUHOO¶VELOOVHYHUHO\XQGHUPLQHGWKHSULQFLSOH even if the smoker
RILQGLYLGXDOUHVSRQVLELOLW\E\KROGLQJDWREDFFRFRPSDQ\OLDEOHIRUD knew the risk of
VPRNHU¶VLQMXULHVHYHQLIWKHVPRNHUNQHZWKHULVNRIVPRNLQJDQGFKRVH
WRVPRNHDQ\ZD\1RWHV0F&ODXJKU\ smoking and chose
,QKXQGUHGVRIWRUWFDVHVEURXJKWE\LQGLYLGXDOVPRNHUV to smoke anyway.
DURXQGWKHFRXQWU\%LJ7REDFFRKDVDUJXHGWKDWWKHSODLQWLII
NQRZLQJO\DVVXPHGWKHULVNVRIVPRNLQJDQGVKRXOGEH
UHVSRQVLEOHIRUWKHKHDOWKFRQVHTXHQFHV-XULHVDOPRVWDOZD\V
UHMHFWWKHSODLQWLII¶VDUJXPHQWWKDWKHZDVEUDLQZDVKHGLQWR
GDPDJLQJKLVKHDOWKE\WKDWUDVFDO-RH&DPHO6RUUHOOZDQW>HG@
DFDVHKHF>RXOG@ZLQVRKLVOHJLVODWLRQVLPSO\VWULS>SHG@DZD\
WKHVHGHIHQVHVDQGGHFODUH>G@WKHVWDWHWKHYLFWRU

0F/DXJKU\IXUWKHUQRWHVWKDW6RUUHOOKDGEHHQDSSURDFKHGE\D
JURXSRIWULDOODZ\HUVH[SHULHQFHGLQWREDFFROLWLJDWLRQ³KHDGHGE\6WHYH
%HUPDQRI6HDWWOH5LFKDUG6FUXJJVRI0LVVLVVLSSLDQG5RQ0RWOH\RI
6RXWK&DUROLQDZKRKDYHJRQHIURPVWDWHWRVWDWHWRVHOOWKHLUVHUYLFHVRQ
DFRQWLQJHQF\EDVLVWRDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDOHDJHUWRSRFNHWELJEXFNVIURPWKH
PXFKGHVSLVHGWREDFFRLQGXVWU\´,QGHHG6RUUHOO¶VWREDFFRVXLWVQDPHG
WKHVHWKUHHDQGRWKHUVDV³VSHFLDODVVLVWDQWDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDOIRUWKHVWDWH
RI9HUPRQW´153
6RUUHOODOVRPDGHVXUHWKDWWKHODZ\HUVKHKLUHGFROOHFWHGORWVRI
PRQH\7KH\JRWDWOHDVWPLOOLRQIRUWKHLUORZULVNUHSUHVHQWDWLRQRI

Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General 

 9HUPRQWLQVWDWHFRXUWXQGHUDFRQWLQJHQF\IHHHYHQWKRXJKFRQWLQJHQF\
IHHVDUHVXSSRVHGWRFRPSHQVDWHODZ\HUVIRUWDNLQJULVN\FDVHV154
,QDGGLWLRQWKHODZ\HUVUHFHLYHGDPXFKODUJHUDPRXQWRIPRQH\
IRUWKHLUUROHLQWKHPXOWLVWDWH0DVWHU6HWWOHPHQW$JUHHPHQWZKLFK
Many state attorneys 6RUUHOOKHOSHGQHJRWLDWH1558QGHULWWKHELJWREDFFRFRPSDQLHVDJUHHGWR
SD\PRUHWKDQELOOLRQWRODZ\HUVKLUHGE\VWDWHDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDOOLNH
general across the 6RUUHOOLQDQQXDOLQVWDOOPHQWVRYHUDSHULRGRI\HDUV156
nation conscientiously $IWHUWKHVHWWOHPHQWZHQWLQWRHIIHFW6RUUHOOWKHQUHVKDSHGLW
WRVTXHOFKFRPSHWLWLRQIURPVPDOOHUWREDFFRFRPSDQLHVWKDWUHIXVHG
IXO¿OOWKHLUGXWLHV WRMRLQWKHWREDFFRVHWWOHPHQWEHFDXVHWKH\KDGQHYHUEHHQDFFXVHG
every day. However, RIZURQJGRLQJLQRUGHUWRSURWHFWWKHPDUNHWVKDUHRIWKHELJWREDFFR
FRPSDQLHVWKDWKDGMRLQHGWKHVHWWOHPHQWDQGZHUHPDNLQJELJSD\PHQWV
others have failed to XQGHULWWRWULDOODZ\HUV$VDUHVXOWRQHVPDOOFRPSDQ\¶VSD\PHQWV
heed the limits on LQFUHDVHGE\1,000 percent158
:KLOH6RUUHOO¶VELOOWDUJHWHGRQO\RQ%LJ7REDFFRVSHFL¿FDOO\LW
their own power. VHWDEDGSUHFHGHQWIRUVLPLODUOHJLVODWLRQWKDWFRXOGJLYHWKHVWDWHZKDW
WKH(WKDQ$OOHQ,QVWLWXWH¶V0F&ODXJKU\FDOOV³DVXUH¿UHOHJDOKXQWLQJ
OLFHQVHDLPHGDWRQHLQGXVWU\DIWHUDQRWKHUZKHUHYHUDOXFUDWLYHUHFRYHU\
DSSHDUVSRVVLEOH7KHVWDWHFRXOGVXHOLTXRUFRPSDQLHVIRUWKHFRVWVRI
DOFRKROLVP´6LPLODUO\LWFRXOGVXH9HUPRQWEDVHG³%HQDQG-HUU\¶VIRU
SHGGOLQJDUWHU\FORJJLQJSHUFHQWEXWWHUIDWLFHFUHDPSXUSRVHO\PDGHDV
WDVW\DVSRVVLEOHWRHQFRXUDJHDGGLFWLRQIURPFKLOGKRRGRQ´
/LNH%OXPHQWKDO6RUUHOOLVDQLGHRORJXHZKRKDVIUHTXHQWO\
VXSSRUWHGXQFRQVWLWXWLRQDOUHVWULFWLRQVRQVSHHFKDQGUDFLDOTXRWDV
+HKDVDOVRDWWDFNHGSULYDWHSURSHUW\ULJKWVLQFOXGLQJDGYRFDWLQJ
WKDWSULYDWHKRPHVEHVXEMHFWWRJRYHUQPHQWVHL]XUHIRUXVHE\
GHYHORSHUV161

Conclusion
0DQ\VWDWHDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDODFURVVWKHQDWLRQFRQVFLHQWLRXVO\IXO¿OO
WKHLUGXWLHVHYHU\GD\+RZHYHURWKHUVOLNHWKRVHGLVFXVVHGDERYHKDYH
IDLOHGWRKHHGWKHOLPLWVRQWKHLURZQSRZHU,QVWHDGRIIRFXVLQJRQWKHLU
KLVWRULFDOIXQFWLRQRIGHIHQGLQJVWDWHDJHQFLHVLQFRXUWDQGSURYLGLQJ
OHJDODGYLFHWKH\KDYHFKRVHQWRXVHODZVXLWVDVDZHDSRQE\ZKLFKWR
XQGHPRFUDWLFDOO\LPSRVHQHZUHJXODWLRQVRQWKHSXEOLF,QWKHSURFHVV
WKH\KDYHXVXUSHGWKHODZPDNLQJDXWKRULW\RIVWDWHOHJLVODWXUHVDQG

 Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General

&RQJUHVV7RVDWLVI\WKHLUDPELWLRQVDQGHQULFKSROLWLFDODOOLHVWKH\KDYH
LPSRVHGJUHDWFRVWVRQRXUQDWLRQ¶VHFRQRP\DQGV\VWHPRIJRYHUQPHQW
ZKLOHIRVWHULQJFRUUXSWLRQDQGXQGHUPLQLQJFRQVWLWXWLRQDOFKHFNVDQG
EDODQFHV7KHSRZHURIVWDWH$*VQHHGVWREHEURXJKWEDFNXQGHUFRQWURO

Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General 

Notes

1  DQV%DGHU³7KH1DWLRQ¶V7RS7HQ:RUVW6WDWH$WWRUQH\V*HQHUDO´&RPSHWLWLYH(QWHUSULVH,QVWLWXWHIssue Analysis1R
+
-DQXDU\KWWSFHLRUJSGISGI
 6WHYHQ$QGHUVRQ³7KH5LVHRI6WDWH$WWRUQH\V*HQHUDO´Corporate Legal Times$XJXVWS$
3 Blumenthal v. Barnes$G&RQQ$WWRUQH\*HQHUDOFDQQRWHQIRUFHODZWKDWOHJLVODWXUHGLGQRWLQWHQGWR
EHHQIRUFHGE\VWDWHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDO%XWVHH In re Cardizem Antitrust Litigation)5'('0LFK
QRWLQJYDULDWLRQVLQSRZHUVRIDWWRUQH\VJHQHUDODFURVVVWDWHOLQHV
4 0LFKDHO6*UHYH³*RYHUQPHQWE\,QGLFWPHQW$WWRUQH\V*HQHUDODQG7KHLU)DOVH)HGHUDOLVP´:DVKLQJWRQ'&$PHULFDQ
(QWHUSULVH,QVWLWXWH$(,:RUNLQJ3DSHU1R0D\SQKWWSZZZDHLRUJSXEOLFDWLRQ
5 Blumenthal v. Barnes$G&RQQ³WKHRI¿FHRIWKHDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOLVµDFUHDWXUHRIVWDWXWH¶WKDWLV
JRYHUQHGE\VWDWXWHDQGWKXVKDVQRFRPPRQODZDXWKRULW\´
6 Morales v. Trans World Airlines86
 Miller Bros. v. Maryland866HHDOVRHealy v. Beer Institute86
8 *UHYH³2XU3DUDOOHO*RYHUQPHQW´6SHHFK$PHULFDQ(QWHUSULVH,QVWLWXWH$(,-XQH
ZZZDHLRUJSXEOLFDWLRQV¿OWHUDOOSXE,'SXEBGHWDLODVSSee also *UHYH³*RYHUQPHQWE\,QGLFWPHQW$WWRUQH\V
*HQHUDODQG7KHLU)DOVH)HGHUDOLVP´See also *UHYH³:KHQ6WDWHV6FUHHFK'RQ¶W/LVWHQ´1DWLRQDO5HYLHZ2QOLQH-DQXDU\
KWWSZZZDHLRUJSXEOLFDWLRQV¿OWHUDOOSXE,'SXEBGHWDLODVSSee also *UHYH³6WDWHV¶5LJKWVRQ6WHURLGV´
$(,2QOLQH6HSWHPEHUKWWSZZZDHLRUJSXEOLFDWLRQV¿OWHUDOOSXE,'SXEBGHWDLODVSSee also *UHYH³)UHH
(OLRW6SLW]HU´$(,2QOLQH0D\KWWSZZZDHLRUJSXEOLFDWLRQV¿OWHUDOOSXE,'SXEBGHWDLODVS
 0DUN&XUULGHQUp In Smoke$%$-RXUQDO0DUFKDWWULDOODZ\HUVJRW³ELOOLRQ´IURPWKH06$DQGELJ
WREDFFRFRPSDQLHVOLNH3KLOLS0RUULVZHUH³ELJZLQQHUV´DWWKHH[SHQVHRIVPRNHUVsee also A.D. Bedell Wholesale Co. v.
Philip Morris)GG&LUFRXUWREVHUYHGWKDWWKH06$OHGWRLQGXVWU\ZLGHSULFHLQFUHDVHVSDVVHGRQWR
FRQVXPHUVEXWXSKHOGWKH06$DJDLQVWDOHJDOFKDOOHQJHDQ\ZD\FLWLQJDORRSKROHLQWKHDQWLWUXVWODZV
 ³%LRJUDSK\RI(OLRW6SLW]HU´2I¿FHRIWKH$WWRUQH\*HQHUDOIRUWKH6WDWHRI1HZ<RUNZHEVLWH
KWWSZZZRDJVWDWHQ\XVELRKWPYLVLWHG-XO\
11 6KDQH*ROGPDFKHU³,¶PWKH:URQJ*X\$G¶V7DUJHW6D\V´The Sacramento Bee0DUFKS$
 *UHYH³*RYHUQPHQWE\,QGLFWPHQW$WWRUQH\V*HQHUDODQG7KHLU)DOVH)HGHUDOLVP´SSSee also *UHYH³:KHQ
6WDWHV6FUHHFK'RQ¶W/LVWHQ´See also *UHYH³2XU3DUDOOHO*RYHUQPHQW´
13 -HVVLFD*DUULVRQDQG0DXUD'RODQ³-HUU\%URZQ$VNV&DOLIRUQLD6XSUHPH&RXUWWR9RLG*D\0DUULDJH%DQ´ The Los Angeles
Times'HFHPEHU
14 %RE(JHONR³%URZQQRZ¿JKWV3URSLQIHGHUDOFRXUW´The San Francisco Chronicle-XQHS$
15 Baker v. Nelson86See also Citizens for Equal Protection v. Bruning, )Gth&LW
16 (XJHQH9RORNK³6DPH6H[0DUULDJH-HZLVK/DZDQG$PHULFDQ/DZ´7KH9RORNK&RQVSLUDF\2FWREHUFRPPHQWE\
+DQV%DGHURQ2FWREHUKWWSYRORNKFRPSRVWVVKWPO
 ,ELG
18 3HWHU6FKHHU³%URZQ¶V3URS&KDOOHQJH0D\%DFN¿UH´The Sacramento Bee-DQXDU\
 See, e.g., Hernandez v. Robles1(G1<6HHDOVRAndersen v. King County3G:DVK6HH
also Baker v. Nelson86
 6FKHHU
 (JHONR³&DOLIRUQLD&RQWHQGHU$)HGHUDO$SSHDOV&RXUW1RPLQHH&RXOG2QH'D\%HFRPHWKH)LUVW%ODFN:RPDQ-XVWLFHDW
WKH866XSUHPH&RXUW´The San Francisco Chronicle2FWREHUS' See also 'DYLG0DUJROLFN ³%XVK¶V&RXUW
$GYDQWDJH´Vanity Fair'HFHPEHUS
 *DUULVRQDQG'RODQ
 (JHONR³%URZQQRZ¿JKWV3URSLQIHGHUDOFRXUW´
 Baker v. Nelson86
 Citizens for Equal Protection v. Bruning, )Gth&LW
 Coalition for Economic Equity v. Wilson)Gth&LU
 0DXUD'RODQ³%URZQ&DOOV$QWL$I¿UPDWLYH$FWLRQ/DZ8QFRQVWLWXWLRQDO´The Los Angeles Times$SULO
KWWSDUWLFOHVODWLPHVFRPDSUORFDOPHMHUU\EURZQSee also %RE(JHONR³-HUU\%URZQ&DOOV3URS
8QFRQVWLWXWLRQDO´The San Francisco Chronicle$SULOS%
 &KHU\O0LOOHU³6WDWH%XGJHW6WDOOHGLQ7XQQHO´The San Francisco Recorder9RO1R-DQXDU\See also 7LP
+DUW³(QYLURQPHQWDO/DZVXLW6HWWOHPHQW6KRZV0LVGLUHFWLRQRI*RYHUQPHQW´The Oakland Tribune)HEUXDU\
 ³&DOLI$*&UDFNV'RZQRQ1HVWOH%RWWOLQJ3ODQW´7KH$VVRFLDWHG3UHVV-XO\See also :DOW:LOH\, ³,G\OOLF7RZQ
1RZ:RUULHV$ERXW&ULPH´The Sacramento Bee0D\
 'DYLG%HQGD³1HVWOHWR5HQHJRWLDWH0F&ORXG'HDO´The Redding Record$XJXVWSee also /HWWHUIURP-
0DUN(YDQVRI1HVWOH:DWHUV1RUWK$PHULFDWR0F&ORXG&RPPXQLW\6HUYLFHV'LVWULFW$XJXVW
KWWSZZZIRRGDQGZDWHUZDWFKRUJSUHVVUHOHDVHV1HVWOHB&RQWUDFWB&DQFHOODWLRQSGI

 Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General

31 ³ 'HSXW\6HFUHWDU\.XSIHU6SHDNVRQ&'+RZH,QVWLWXWH´86)HGHUDO1HZVZLUH2FWREHUSee also -RKQ&.XHKQHU
³86&KDPEHU/DXGV%XVLQHVVRQ(QYLURQPHQW´The Cleveland Plain-Dealer$SULOS&
 5HS+HQU\%RQLOOD ³3D\LQJDWWKH3XPS´86)HGHUDO1HZVZLUH0D\
33 .DWKHULQH7DP³&KHYURQ3ODQ+DV%URZQ¶V$WWHQWLRQ´ The Contra Costa Times0DUFKS$See also 0DWWKDL
.XUXYLODDQG6WHYH5XEHQVWHLQ³3DQHO3RVWSRQHV9RWHRQ5H¿QHU\´The San Francisco Chronicle0DUFKS%See
also 0DWWKDL.XUXYLOD³KHDU&KHYURQ0DNH3LWFKWR5HGR5H¿QHU\´The San Francisco Chronicle0DUFKS%
34 /DHU3HDUFH³-HUU\%URZQ2LO%DURQ´:DVKLQJWRQ7LPHV$SULOSee also:HVWHUQ6WDWHV3HWUROHXP$VVRFLDWLRQ,
³(QHUJ\$OHUW7KH3HWUROHXP,QGXVWU\LQ&DOLIRUQLD´PRVWRLOUH¿QHGLQ&DOLIRUQLDLVIURP$ODVNDRU&DOLIRUQLDYLUWXDOO\QRQH
LVIURP,QGRQHVLDZZZZVSDRUJXSORDGVGRFXPHQWV:63$B*HQHUDOB)DFWB6KHHWB8SGDWHGBSGI³5H¿QLQJWKH
&KHYURQ5H¿QHU\´San Francisco Examiner$XJ5LFKPRQGUH¿QHU\ZKRVHPRGHUQL]DWLRQZDVRSSRVHGE\%URZQ
GUHZ³PXFK´RILWVRLOVXSSO\³IURP$ODVND´
35 7RQ\%DUWOHOPH³$WWRUQH\V*HQHUDO2SSRVH&RDO3ODQW´The Charleston Post & Courier-DQXDU\
36 $QGUHZ0DF,QWRVK³&DSLWRO$OHUW3RL]QHUFDPSDLJQXUJHV%URZQWRUHWXUQLQGRQDWLRQV´The Sacramento Bee
-XQHKWWSZZZVDFEHHFRPVWDWLFZHEORJVFDSLWRODOHUWODWHVWKWPO
 &DUOD0DULQXFFL³-HUU\%URZQ¶V)DYRULWH&KDULWLHV*HW0LOOLRQV´The San Francisco Chronicle-XQHS$
38 0DWWKHZ9DGXP³$&251¶V0RRQEHDP´The American Spectator1RYHPEHU
 'HQQLV5RPHUR³-HUU\%URZQ¶V´6XSHUÀ\¶,QYHVWLJDWLRQ,QWR$FRUQ3LPS¶1¶+R6FKDQGDO&RPFOXGHV:LWK1R$UUHVWV,”
LA Weekly$SULO KWWSEORJVODZHHNO\FRPODGDLO\FLW\QHZVMHUU\EURZQDFRUQLQYHVWLJDWLR
 *UHJ0RUDQ³$&251&OHDUHG'HVSLWHµ+LJKO\,QDSSURSULDWH¶$FWV´6DQ'LHJR8QLRQ7ULEXQH$SULO
41 ³6WDWHRI2NODKRPD¶&DPSDLJQ&RQWULEXWLRQ6HDUFK5HVXOWV´1,&7HFKQRORJLHV&DPSDLJQ)LQDQFH4XHU\6\VWHP
KWWSRNYLVLWHG6HSWHPEHU
 -DQLFH)UDQFLV6PLWK³(WKLF&RPPLVVLRQ6%&HPSOR\HHVFRQWULEXWHGWR2.DWWRUQH\JHQHUDO¶VFDPSDLJQ´Oklahoma City
Journal-Record0D\
43 1RODQ&OD\³(GPRQGVRQDFFHSWV6WLSH¶VGRQDWLRQ*23IRHWDNHVIXQGVOLQNHGWRSRXOWU\´Daily Oklahoman1RYHPEHU
³6WDWHRI2NODKRPD¶&DPSDLJQ&RQWULEXWLRQ6HDUFK5HVXOWV´
44 (GLWRULDO³1RWVRFOHDU(WKLFVUXOHVWULSXSHYHQWKH$*´The Daily Oklahoman$SULOSee also 0LFN+LQWRQ³$*
UHLPEXUVHVFDPSDLJQ´The Daily Oklahoman$SULOS$
45 'DYLG$YHULOO³)HH'HDOV/HYHOWKH3OD\LQJ)LHOG´The Tulsa World-XO\S*:/15WREDFFR
ODZ\HUVKLUHGE\(GPRQGVRQUHFHLYHG³PLOOLRQ´LQWREDFFRVHWWOHPHQWSee also 7LP2¶%ULHQ³/DZ\HUV3D\$7/$D
3LWWDQFHIRU8VHRI,WV*RRG1DPHWR0DNH0LOOLRQV´New Jersey Law Journal9RO1R0D\SSee also
2I¿FHRIWKH$WWRUQH\*HQHUDOIRUWKH6WDWHRI2NODKRPD3UHVV5HOHDVH³6WDWH5HFHLYHV$GGLWLRQDO0LOOLRQIURP7REDFFR
&RPSDQLHV´$SULOKWWSZZZRDJVWDWHRNXVRDJZHEQVIVUFK($((%&()'("2SHQ'R
FXPHQW See also 0DVWHU6HWWOHPHQW$JUHHPHQW([KLELW63DJH6KWWSZZZQDDJRUJEDFNSDJHVQDDSWREDFFRPVDPVD
SGIBBFLJPVDSGISee also ³6WDWHRI2NODKRPD¶&DPSDLJQ&RQWULEXWLRQ6HDUFK5HVXOWV´VKRZLQJ
WKRXVDQGVRIGROODUVLQFDPSDLJQFRQWULEXWLRQVLQ\HDUVVXFKDVIURPODZ\HUVDWWKRVHODZ¿UPVLQFOXGLQJ+HQU\$0H\HU
LQ-RKQ:1RUPDQDQGWKRXVDQGVRIGROODUVIURP'DYLG5LJJV%HQ$EQH\'RQDOG%LQJKDP&6/HZLV,,,
-RVHSK3/HQQDUW0LNH7XUSHQDQG-DPHV&2UELVRQRIWKH5LJJV$EQH\¿UP
46 %DUEDUD+REHURFN³7DERU3HWLWLRQ&LUFXODWRUVLQ&RXUW´Tulsa World-DQXDU\S$See also -HQQLIHU0RFN
³3HWLWLRQHUV&KDUJHG´The Oklahoman'HFHPEHUS$
 ³2NODKRPD´%DOORWSHGLDKWWSEDOORWSHGLDRUJZLNLLQGH[SKS"WLWOH 2NODKRPDB
48 0DULH3ULFH³2NODKRPD0XOWLFRXQW\*UDQG-XU\,QGLFWV7KUHH3HRSOH$VVRFLDWHGZLWK7$%25´Oklahoma City Journal-
Record2FWREHUSee also 1RODQ&OD\³&RXUWV/HDGHURI3ROLWLFDO0RYHPHQW&DOOV&KDUJHVDQ$WWDFNRQ)LUVW
$PHQGPHQW*UDQG-XU\,QGLFWV7KUHH2YHU6LJQDWXUH*DWKHULQJ´The Oklahoman2FWREHUS$
 ,ELG
 ³2NODKRPD´%DOORWSHGLDSee also In re Initiative Petition No. 3793G2NOD
51 See, e.g.,³7KH3HRSOH6SHDN3HWLWLRQHU,QGLFWPHQWV6KRUW'HPRFUDWLF5LJKWV´Muskegon Phoenix-DQXDU\KWWS
ZZZPXVNRJHHSKRHQL[FRPRSLQLRQORFDOBVWRU\BKWPOSee also GHSRVLWLRQRI6XVDQ-RKQVRQLQ In re Initiative
Petition No. 379-XQHSS
 See In re Initiative Petition No. 3793G2NOD7KHFRXUWVRUXOHGHYHQWKRXJKLWDGPLWWHGWKDWVXFKUHVWULFWLRQV
DUHVXSSRVHGWREHOHQLHQWO\DSSOLHG³EHFDXVHWKHULJKWRIWKHLQLWLDWLYHLVVRYDOXDEOHDOOGRXEWDVWRWKHFRQVWUXFWLRQRISHUWLQHQW
SURYLVLRQVLVUHVROYHGLQIDYRURIDPHDVXUH´
53 Nader v. Brewer)Gth&LUSee also Krislov v. Rednour)Gth&LU
54 Chandler v. City of Arvada, Colorado)Gth&LU
55 Yes on Term Limits, Inc. v. Savage)Gth&LU
56 3ULFH³6XSSRUWHUVRI7$%25+DLO2NOD$*¶V'HFLVLRQWR'URS&DVH´Oklahoma City Journal-Record-DQXDU\
 &OD\See also /DUXH%R\G³/HWWHUV,QVLGH-RNH´Forbes-DQXDU\S
58 Chandler v. City of Arvada, Colorado See also VanNatta v. Keisling)Gth&LUSee also Landell v.
Sorrell)GG&LUSee also Warren v. Fairfax County,)Gth&LU

Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General 

 See American Constitutional Law Found.,86See also Meyer v. Grant,86
See also Krislov v. Rednour,)GWK&LU
 %RE:DOGURS ³:KR¶V1H[WRQ3ROLWLFDO+LW/LVW"´The Oklahoman2FWREHUS$
61 New York Times v. Sullivan86
 ³3DXO-DFRE´KWWSZZZFLWL]HQVLQFKDUJHRUJDERXWXVVWDIISDXOMDFRE6HHDOVRThe Politics and Law of Term Limits HGV
(GZDUG+&UDQHDQG5RJHU3LORQ:DVKLQJWRQ'&&DWR,QVWLWXWHSS
63 (GLWRULDO³2NODKRPD¶V0RVW:DQWHG7KH/DWHVW7KLQJLQ3ROLWLFDO)HORQLHVD3HWLWLRQ'ULYH´The Wall Street Journal
1RYHPEHUS$
64 Brief of the States of Arizona, Oklahoma, et al., as Amici Curiae in Support of the Petitioners¿OHG1RYHPEHULQ
United States v. Morrison86See also Brief of Respondent James LaDale Crawford ¿OHG'HFHPEHU
LQUnited States v. Morrison86
65 5REHUW%RF]NLHZLF]³&RXUWV<HVRQ7HUP/LPLWV,QFDSSHDOVGHFLVLRQ*URXSZDQWVSHWLWLRQODZVWUXFNGRZQ´The
Oklahoman-DQXDU\S$
66 %HUW5DFNHWW³7KH2QO\6WDWH´ The Oklahoman2FWREHUS$See also 0DULH3ULFH³2YHUOHJLVODWRUVDVVXUHG
UHHOHFWLRQ´Oklahoma City Journal-Record-XO\
 %RF]NLHZLF]
68 (GLWRULDO³2NODKRPD¶V0RVW:DQWHG7KH/DWHVW7KLQJLQ3ROLWLFDO)HORQLHVD3HWLWLRQ'ULYH´
 ,ELG
 $OLVRQ/HLJK&RZDQ³&RQQHFWLFXW,V&ULWLFL]HGRQ6SHQGLQJRQ6PRNLQJ´The New York Times-DQXDU\
S%See also2I¿FHRIWKH$WWRUQH\*HQHUDOIRUWKH6WDWHRI2NODKRPD3UHVV5HOHDVH³6WDWH5HFHLYHV
$GGLWLRQDO0LOOLRQIURP7REDFFR&RPSDQLHV´$SULO
KWWSZZZRDJVWDWHRNXVRDJZHEQVI&(()$'')$%)2SHQ'RFXPHQWSee also+DQV%DGHU
³:KDW¶V8S:LWK1DWLRQ¶V:RUVW$WWRUQH\V*HQHUDO"´The Washington Examiner)HEUXDU\S
 .HYLQ0D\KRRG³0LOOLRQ'LVSXWHLQ)HGHUDO&RXUW+HUH´The Columbus Dispatch-DQXDU\
 ³7REDFFR'HDO%UHDNHU"´The Wall Street Journal5HYLHZDQG2XWORRN$XJXVW
KWWSZZZFRQWURODEXVHRISRZHURUJQHZVQHZVBEULH¿QJB:6-DVS
 Freedom Holdings v. Spitzer)GG&LU
 &DPSDLJQIRU7REDFFR)UHH.LGVA Broken Promise for Our Children: the 1998 State Tobacco Settlement Seven Years Later
1RYHPEHUSSKWWSZZZWREDFFRIUHHNLGVRUJUHSRUWVVHWWOHPHQWVIXOOUHSRUWSGI
 Martin v. Wilks86See also 06$†,;([KLELW7
 06$([KLELW76HHDOVR6WDU6FLHQWL¿FY&DUWHU:/6',QG$XJBut see Virginia v. Patriot
Tobacco Co&DVH1R&+9LUJLQLD&LUFXLW&RXUW&LW\RI5LFKPRQG2FW0HOYLQ+XJKHV-/HWWHU
2SLQLRQDWS
 7KRPDV6FKHIIH\³:LQQLQJWKH0LOOLRQ*DPEOH´Connecticut Legal Tribune'HFHPEHUS
 ,ELG
 0DUJDUHW/LWWOH³$0RVW'DQJHURXV,QGLVFUHWLRQ7KH/HJDO(FRQRPLFDQG3ROLWLFDO/HJDF\RIWKH*RYHUQPHQWV¶7REDFFR
/LWLJDWLRQ´Connecticut Law Review9RO1RSS
 -RKQ%HLVQHU-HVVLFD'DYLGVRQ0LOOHUDQG7HUUHOO0F6ZHHQ\³%RXQW\+XQWHUVRQWKH3URZO7KH7URXEOLQJ$OOLDQFHRI6WDWH
$WWRUQH\V*HQHUDODQG3ODLQWLIIV¶/DZ\HUV´:DVKLQJWRQ'&,QVWLWXWHIRU/HJDO5HIRUP0D\SSee also /LWWOH
S
81 /LWWOHSS
 %HLVQHUHWDOSSee also/LWWOHSS
83 Erickson v. Foote$&RQQ
84 /LWWOHSQSee also &RQQ$JHQFLHV5HJV††FK
85 Ganim v. Smith & Wesson Corp.&RQQ$G&RQQ
 $(,)HGHUDOLVP3URMHFW³&DUYH0\7XUNH\´AG Watch1RYHPEHUKWWSIHGHUDOLVPSURMHFWRUJDJZDWFK"S 
See also 2I¿FHRIWKH$WWRUQH\*HQHUDOIRUWKH6WDWHRI1HZ<RUN3UHVV5HOHDVH³:HVWHUQ8QLRQ$JUHHVWR+HOS&RPEDW
7HOHPDUNHWLQJ)UDXG´1RYHPEHUKWWSZZZRDJVWDWHQ\XVSUHVVQRYQRYDBKWPO
 ,ELGSee also 2I¿FHRIWKH$WWRUQH\*HQHUDOIRUWKH6WDWHRI0DVVDFKXVHWWHV3UHVV5HOHDVH³$*5HLOO\5HDFKHV$JUHHPHQW
ZLWK:HVWHUQ8QLRQWR3URWHFW&RQVXPHUV$JDLQVW)UDXGXOHQW7HOHPDUNHWHUV´1RYHPEHUKWWSZZZDJRVWDWHPDXV
VSFIP"SDJHLG  LG 
88 ,ELGSee also $(,)HGHUDOLVP3URMHFW³&DUYH0\7XUNH\´
 R.A.V. v. St. Paul86See also Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1
6&WQQSee also Brief of the States of New York, Connecticut, Illinois, et al., as Amici
Curiae in Support of Respondents¿OHG2FWREHUSee also Gratz v. Bollinger86See also Brief of
the States of Maryland, et al. in Support of Respondents¿OHG)HEUXDU\See also Randall v. Sorrell86
See also Brief of the States of Connecticut, et al., as Amici Curiae in Support of Respondents and Cross-Petitioners¿OHG
)HEUXDU\

 Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General

 K  elo v. New London86See also Brief of the State of Connecticut Through Its Attorney General As Amicus
Curiae In Support of the Respondents¿OHG-DQXDU\See also Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council86

 State v. Lead Industries Ass’n$G5,
 ,ELGquoting In re Lead Paint Litigation$G1-
 ,ELG
 5DMD0LVKUD³5KRGH,VODQG:LQV/HDG3DLQW6XLW´The Boston Globe)HEUXDU\
KWWSZZZERVWRQFRPQHZVORFDOUKRGHBLVODQGDUWLFOHVUKRGHBLVODQGBZLQVBOHDGBSDLQWBVXLW
See also(GLWRULDO³%ODPLQJWKH:URQJ3HRSOH´The Providence Journal0DUFK
 (GLWRULDO³%ODPLQJWKH:URQJ3HRSOH´
 ,ELG
 -DPHV5&RSODQG³/DZ\HU/HDGHUVKLS7KH3ODLQWLII¶VEDU¶VSDLQWSUR¿WV´City Journal6SULQJ
KWWSZZZFLW\MRXUQDORUJKWPOBBVQGJVKWPO
 See 5KRGH,VODQG%RDUGRI(OHFWLRQV³&DPSDLJQ)LQDQFH(OHFWURQLF5HSRUWLQJ 7UDFNLQJ6\VWHP3XEOLF&RQWULEXWLRQ
5HSRUW´KWWSZZZULFDPSDLJQ¿QDQFHFRPYLVLWHG0D\
 :DOWHU2OVRQ³5,-XU\)LQGV)RUPHU/HDG3DLQW0DNHUV/LDEOH´2YHUODZ\HUHGFRP)HEUXDU\
KWWSZZZRYHUODZ\HUHGFRPULBMXU\B¿QGVBIRUPHUBOHDGBSDLQKWPO
 See 5KRGH,VODQG%RDUGRI(OHFWLRQV
 &DUUROO$QGUHZ0RUVH³7KH/HDG3DLQW7ULDO&RQWLQXHV´$QFKRU5LVLQJ$SULO
KWWSZZZDQFKRUULVLQJFRPEDUQDFOHVKWPO
 0LFKHOOH56PLWK³5,$WWRUQH\*HQHUDO)DFHV(WKLFV&RPSODLQW´The Boston Globe-XO\
KWWSZZZERVWRQFRPQHZVORFDOUKRGHBLVODQGDUWLFOHVULBDWWRUQH\BJHQHUDOBIDFHVBHWKLFV_BFRPSODLQW"PRGH 3)
 6PLWK³'X3RQW/HDG3DLQW6XLW'HDO4XHVWLRQHG´The Delaware News-Journal$XJXVW
KWWSZZZGHODZDUHRQOLQHFRPDSSVSEFVGOODUWLFOH"$,' %86,1(66
 ,ELG
 /LWWOHSee also Tyler v. Superior Court5,5,See also 5,*HQ/DZV†See also 5,
*HQ/DZV†See also 5,*HQ/DZV†See also 5,*HQ/DZV†See also /RXLVLDQD%RDUGRI(WKLFV
2SLQLRQ1R0D\KWWSGRPLQRHWKLFVVWDWHODXV(WKLF5XQVIHFIGDFGIIHE
IDEDEGGD"2SHQ'RFXPHQW
 State v. Lead Industries Ass’n
 0RUVHThe Lead Paint Trial Continues$QFKRU5LVLQJ$SULOKWWSZZZDQFKRUULVLQJFRPEDUQDFOHVKWPOSee
also accord%ULHIRI:DVKLQJWRQ/HJDO)RXQGDWLRQDV$PLFXV&XULDHLQState of Rhode Island v. Lead Indus. Ass’n5,)HEUXDU\
1R03SKWWSZZZZOIRUJXSORDG/HDG,QGXVWULHVY5KRGH,VODQGSGI
 (ULF7XFNHU³5,$WWRUQH\*HQHUDO+LW:LWK6HFRQG)LQHIRU&RPPHQWVLQ/HDG3DLQW&DVH´7KH$VVRFLDWHG3UHVV
 State v. Lead Paint Ass’n, Inc
 3DFL¿F5HVHDUFK,QVWLWXWH³6DLQWV6LQQHUV6DOYDJHDEOHVDQG6XFNHUV$7DOHRI/HJDO*UHHGDQG([FHVV´See also
3DFL¿F5HVHDUFK,QVWLWXWH³867RUW/LDELOLW\,QGH[5HSRUW$6WDWHE\6WDWH5DQNLQJRI7RUW&RVWVDQG7RUW/DZV´
KWWSVSHFLDOSDFL¿FUHVHDUFKRUJSXEVDE7RUWB,QGH[VWDWHKWPO,QVWLWXWHIRU/HJDO5HIRUP³86&KDPEHURI
&RPPHUFH6WDWH/LDELOLW\6\VWHPV5DQNLQJ6WXG\´KWWSZZZLQVWLWXWHIRUOHJDOUHIRUPFRP/DZVXLW&OLPDWH
111 (GLWRULDO ³0F*UDZ¶V&OLHQWLV:HVW9LUJLQLD7KH0RQH\IURP,WV/DZVXLWV%HORQJWRWKH3HRSOH1RWWR+LP´The Charleston
Daily Mail2FWREHUS$
 /DZUHQFH0HVVLQD³:9D¶V0HGLFDLG)XQGV7KUHDWHQHG)HGHUDO*RYHUQPHQW:DQWV0RUHWKDQ0LOOLRQIURPWKH6WDWH
3URJUDP´7KH$VVRFLDWHG3UHVVThe Charleston Gazette$XJXVWS&See also 7KH$VVRFLDWHG3UHVV³866KDUH
RI6HWWOHPHQW5XOHG+LJK´The Charleston Gazette-XO\S&See also 0HVVLQD³)HGV'HPDQGIURP¶
:9D6HWWOHPHQW´$3$OHUW'HFHPEHUSee also (GLWRULDO³0F*UDZ¶V+DQGOLQJRI2[\FRQWLQ6HWWOHPHQW5DLVHV/RWV
RI4XHVWLRQV´The Morgantown Dominion Post$XJXVW
113 6FRWW6DEDWLQL³0F*UDZ+DV7DNHQ2XWVLGH&RXQVHO,GHDWR1HZ+HLJKWV´The West Virginia Record$XJXVW
KWWSZYUHFRUGFRPQHZVFRQWHQWYLHZDVS"F See also(GLWRULDO³6WDWH6KRXOG&XUE0F*UDZ´The Charleston Daily
Mail-DQXDU\S$
114 -XVWLQ'$QGHUVRQ³:9D7RSV³-XGLFLDO+HOOKROH´/LVW$JDLQ´The Charleston Daily Mail'HFHPEHUS$See
also 7KH$VVRFLDWHG3UHVV³:9D6WLOORQ*URXS¶V/LVWRI&RXUWµ+HOOKROHV¶´The Charleston Gazette'HFHPEHUS$
115 State v. Vieweg:9D6(G:9D
116 ,ELGQ6(GQ:9D

Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General 

 , ELG6(G:9DSee also State of West Virginia Campaign Financial Statement (Long Form) In
Relation to 2004 Election Year)LUVW3ULPDU\$SULO
KWWSZZZZYVRVFRPHOHFWLRQV3')&DQGLGDWHVSGISee also State of West Virginia
Campaign Financial Statement (Long Form) In Relation to 2004 Election Year3UH3ULPDU\0D\
KWWSZZZZYVRVFRPHOHFWLRQV3')&DQGLGDWHVSGISee also State of W. Va. Campaign Financial Statement for
Elections in 1996$SULOKWWSZZZZYVRVFRPFIUSGISRFVSGIGRFV:)B'SGI
118 McGraw v. American Tobacco Co.&LY$1R&:9D&LU&W1RYSee also %HLVQHUHWDOSSee also
-XOLHW7HUU\³/DZPDNHU$VNV0HPEHUVIRU³:LOOWR$FW´´The State Journal0DUFK
 McGraw v. American Tobacco Co.
 &KHU\O&DUOVRQ³2XU*ULHYDQFHV3D\+DQGVRPHO\/DZ\HUV6SHDNLQJRQ&LWL]HQV%HKDOI*RW0LOOLRQ"´The Charleston
Daily Mail-XO\S$See also 3KLO.DEOHU³/HJLVODWLYH$XGLW4XHVWLRQV$WWRUQH\*HQHUDO¶V$XWKRULW\´The
Charleston Gazette-DQXDU\S$See also6DP7UDQXP³/DZ\HU5HFHLYHV0LOOLRQ:DV2QO\%ULHÀ\,QYROYHG
LQ7REDFFR/DZVXLW´The Charleston Daily Mail-XQHS$See also 5REHUW0DXN³0F*UDZ¶V$GV$UH$Q$EXVH´
The Charleston Daily Mail6HSWHPEHUS$
 &DUOVRQSee also 0DXN³3HUVRQDO,QMXU\/DZ\HUV7KULYLQJ/DZVXLW$EXVH7DLQWV*RYHUQPHQW´ The Charleston Daily Mail
2FWREHUS$See also(GLWRULDO³6WDWH6KRXOG&XUE0F*UDZ´
 ³0LOOLRQ$WWRUQH\V¶)HHV2.¶G´$3$OHUW-DQXDU\
 &KULV'LFNHUVRQ³'UXJ&RPSDQLHV4XHVWLRQ0F*UDZ¶V8VHRI6SHFLDO$VVLVWDQW$*V´The West Virginia Record-XO\
KWWSZZZZYUFRUGFRPQHZVQHZVYLHZDVS"F 
 (GLWRULDO³0F*UDZ¶V&OLHQWLV:HVW9LUJLQLD7KH0RQH\IURP,WV/DZVXLWV%HORQJWRWKH3HRSOH1RWWR+LP´
 7HUU\³$*)XQGV'UDZLQJ/HJLVODWLYH,UH´:2:.79)HEUXDU\
KWWSZRZNWYFRPVWRU\FIP"IXQF YLHZVWRU\ VWRU\LG 
 0HVVLQD³:9D¶V0HGLFDLG)XQGV7KUHDWHQHG)HGHUDO*RYHUQPHQW:DQWV0RUHWKDQ0LOOLRQIURPWKH6WDWH3URJUDP´
See also7KH$VVRFLDWHG3UHVV³866KDUHRI6HWWOHPHQW5XOHG+LJK´See also 0HVVLQD³)HGV'HPDQGIURP¶:
9D6HWWOHPHQW´
 .LPEHUOH\6WUDVVHO³&KDOOHQJLQJ6SLW]HULVPDWWKH3ROOV´The Wall Street Journal$XJXVW
KWWSRQOLQHZVMFRPDUWLFOH6%
 7HUU\³/DZPDNHU$VNV0HPEHUVIRUµ:LOOWR$FW¶´
 6WUDVVHO
 7HUU\³/DZPDNHU$VNV0HPEHUVIRUµ:LOOWR$FW¶´
131 -XVWLQ'$QGHUVRQ³0F*UDZ¶V2I¿FH0HGLFDLG2I¿FLDODW2GGV2YHU0RQH\)HGHUDO$XWKRULWLHV:DQW6KDUHRI2[\FRQWLQ
6HWWOHPHQW´The Charleston Gazette0D\S$
 6WHYH.RUULV³$*¶V$ZDUGWR7RPEOLQ¶V:LIH¶V&ROOHJH5DLVHV(\HEURZV´The West Virginia Record$SULO
KWWSZZZZYUHFRUGFRPQHZVQHZVYLHZDVS"F 
133 7HUU\³/DZPDNHU$VNV0HPEHUVIRUµ:LOOWR$FW¶´
 7HUU\³$*)XQGV'UDZLQJ/HJLVODWLYH,UH´
135 -XVWLQ'$QGHUVRQ³0F*UDZ¶V2I¿FH0HGLFDLG2I¿FLDODW2GGV2YHU0RQH\)HGHUDO$XWKRULWLHV:DQW6KDUHRI
2[\FRQWLQ6HWWOHPHQW´
136 7HUU\³$*)XQGV'UDZLQJ/HJLVODWLYH,UH´See also 7HG)UDQN³$*'DUUHOO0F*UDZ6OXVK)XQG´3RLQWRI/DZ
)HEUXDU\KWWSZZZSRLQWRÀDZFRPDUFKLYHVSKS
 &KULV'LFNHUVRQ³4XHVWLRQV$ULVH2YHU0F*UDZ¶V+DQGOLQJRI6HWWOHPHQW)XQGV´The West Virginia Record)HEUXDU\
KWWSZZZZYUHFRUGFRPQHZVQHZVYLHZDVS"F 
138 'DYLG1LHSRUHQW³:HVW9LUJLQLD$WWRUQH\*HQHUDO,QYROYHGLQ0HGLFDLG)UDXG"´2YHUODZ\HUHGFRP0D\
KWWSRYHUODZ\HUHGFRPZHVWYLUJLQLDDWWRUQH\JHQHUDOLQYROYHGLQPHGLFDLGIUDXG
 -RKQ2¶%ULHQ³)HGV3URELQJ0F*UDZ¶V+DQGOLQJRI3XUGXH3KDUPD6HWWOHPHQW´ /HJDO1HZVOLQH0D\
KWWSZZZOHJDOQHZVOLQHFRPQHZVIHGVSURELQJPFJUDZVKDQGOLQJRISXUGXHSKDUPDVHWWOHPHQW
 $VVRFLDWHG3UHVV³866KDUHRI6HWWOHPHQW5XOHG+LJK´
141 0HVVLQD³:9D¶V0HGLFDLG)XQGV7KUHDWHQHG)HGHUDO*RYHUQPHQW:DQWV0RUHWKDQ0LOOLRQIURPWKH6WDWH3URJUDP´
See also0HVVLQD³)HGV'HPDQGIURP¶:9D6HWWOHPHQW´
 (GLWRULDO³0F*UDZ¶V+DQGOLQJRI2[\FRQWLQ6HWWOHPHQW5DLVHV/RWVRI4XHVWLRQV´
143 0D\KRRG³0LOOLRQ'LVSXWHLQ)HGHUDO&RXUW+HUH´
144 ³7REDFFR'HDO%UHDNHU"´The Wall Street Journal.
145 Messer v. Huntington Anesthesia Group:9D6(GSee also State of W. Va. Campaign Financial
Statement for Elections in 1996:DOW$XYLO$SULOKWWSZZZZYVRVFRPFIUSGIGRFVSGIGRFV:)B'SGI
146 (GLWRULDO³&DQ:H(VFDSH2XU³7RUW+HOO´"´ The State Journal-XQHKWWSVWDWHMRXUQDOFRPVWRU\FIP"IXQF YLHZVWRU\
VWRU\LG See also $PHULFDQ7RUW5HIRUP$VVRFLDWLRQ³7RUW+HOOV´KWWSZZZDWUDRUJUHSRUWVKHOOKROHV

 Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General

 3DFL¿F5HVHDUFK,QVWLWXWH³867RUW/LDELOLW\,QGH[5HSRUW$6WDWHE\6WDWH5DQNLQJRI7RUW&RVWVDQG7RUW/DZV´
148 +6RUUHOO¶VELOOHQFRGL¿HGDV9W6WDW$QQWLW††See also -RKQ0F&ODXJKU\³6KDUS3UDFWLFH´
(WKDQ$OOHQ,QVWLWXWH&RPPHQWDU\$SULOKWWSZZZHWKDQDOOHQRUJFRPPHQWDU\SKS"FRPPHQWDU\BLG  See also /LWWOH
See also 5REHUW$/HY\³7KH1HZ%XVLQHVVRI*RYHUQPHQW6SRQVRUHG/LWLJDWLRQ´Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy
9RO1RS
 See+HQFRGL¿HGDV9W6WDW$QQWLW††
 0F&ODXJKU\
151 ³3HUFHQWRI$GXOWV:KR$UH6PRNHUV´6WDWH+HDOWK)DFWVRUJKWWSZZZVWDWHKHDOWKIDFWVRUJFJLELQKHDOWKIDFWVFJL"
DFWLRQ FRPSDUH FDWHJRU\ +HDOWK6WDWXV VXEFDWHJRU\ 6PRNLQJ WRSLF 6PRNLQJ5DWH
 0F&ODXJKU\
153 ,ELG,Q0DUFK5LFKDUG6FUXJJVSOHDGHGJXLOW\LQIHGHUDOFRXUWRIWU\LQJWREULEHD0LVVLVVLSSLVWDWHMXGJH
³3URPLQHQW7ULDO/DZ\HU3OHDGV*XLOW\WR%ULEHU\´The New York Times0DUFK
KWWSZZZQ\WLPHVFRPEXVLQHVVVFUXJJVKWPO"BU  UHI ULFKDUGBIBVFUXJJV
154 $OLVRQ)UDQNHO³7REDFFR¶V%LJ3D\'D\´American Lawyer-DQXDU\)HEUXDU\SSee also 5RFFR&DPPDUHUH
³7REDFFR)HHV-XVW:DLWLQJWR,QKDOH´New Jersey Lawyer9RO1R-DQXDU\S
155 7RP3UHFLRXV³6SLW]HU'HFOLQHVWR-RLQ%LGWR.HHS3KLOLS0RUULV6ROYHQW´7KH%XIIDOR1HZV$SULOS$
156 0D\KRRGSee also $OH[%HDP³*UHHGRQ7ULDO´The Atlantic Monthly-XQHS
 -RKQ5HLG%ODFNZHOO³6PDOO&LJDUHWWH&RPSDQLHV%DWWOH7REDFFR,QGXVWU\*LDQWV2YHU/HJLVODWLRQ´The Richmond Times-
Dispatch0DUFKS'See also (OL]DEHWK$OEDQHVH³06$6XLW&OHDUHGWR3URFHHG6XSUHPH&RXUW'HFOLQHV
$SSHDO´Bond Buyer2FWREHUS
158 $OEDQHVH
 0F&ODXJKU\
 Randall v. Sorrell86See also Landell v. Sorrell,)6XSSG'9WSee also Parents
Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 16&WQQSee also Brief of
the States of New York, et al,. as Amici Curiae in Support of Respondents¿OHG2FWREHUSee also Gratz v. Bollinger
86See also Brief of the States of Maryland, et al. in Support of Respondents¿OHG)HEUXDU\See
also Boy Scouts v. Dale86See also Brief of the State of New York, et al., as Amici Curiae In Support of
Respondent¿OHG0DUFKKWWSVXSUHPHOS¿QGODZFRPVXSUHPHBFRXUWEULHIVIREULHIEULHIKWPO
161 See Kelo v. New London86See also Brief of the States of Vermont, et al., As Amici Curiae in Support of
Respondents¿OHG-DQXDU\

Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General 

 About the Author

+DQV%DGHULV&RXQVHOIRU6SHFLDO3URMHFWVDWWKH&RPSHWLWLYH(QWHUSULVH,QVWLWXWH+HKDVOLWLJDWHGDYDULHW\
RIFRQVWLWXWLRQDOFDVHVIRFXVLQJRQIHGHUDOLVPFLYLOULJKWVDQG)LUVW$PHQGPHQWLVVXHV+HJUDGXDWHGIURP
WKH8QLYHUVLW\RI9LUJLQLDZLWKD%DFKHORU¶VLQHFRQRPLFVDQGKLVWRU\DQGODWHUHDUQHGKLV-XULV'RFWRUIURP
+DUYDUG/DZ6FKRRO

 Bader: The Nation’s Worst State Attorneys General

$8.00

The Competitive Enterprise Institute is a non-profit public policy organization ded-

icated to the principles of free enterprise and limited government. We believe that
consumers are best helped not by government regulation but by being allowed to
make their own choices in a free marketplace. Since its founding in 1984, CEI has
grown into an influential Washington institution.

We are nationally recognized as a leading voice on a broad range of regulatory

issues ranging from environmental laws to antitrust policy to regulatory risk. CEI is
not a traditional “think tank.” We frequently produce groundbreaking research on
regulatory issues, but our work does not stop there. It is not enough to simply iden-
tify and articulate solutions to public policy problems; it is also necessary to defend
and promote those solutions. For that reason, we are actively engaged in many
phases of the public policy debate.

We reach out to the public and the media to ensure that our ideas are heard, work
with policymakers to ensure that they are implemented and, when necessary, take
our arguments to court to ensure the law is upheld. This “full service approach” to
public policy makes us an effective and powerful force for economic freedom.

Competitive
Enterprise
Institute
1899 L Street, NW
12th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
202-331-1010
Fax 202-331-0640
www.cei.org

Issue Analysis is a series of policy studies published by the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Nothing in Issue
Analysis should be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of CEI or as an attempt to aid or hinder the
passage of any bill before Congress. Contact CEI for reprint permission. Additional copies of Issue Analysis
may be purchased through CEI’s publications department (pubs@cei.org or 202-331-1010).