Attorneys at DOJ provide a broad range of legal services to the state, its agencies, its university system, and state and university employees acting in their official capacities. Among the services provided include:
- Handling litigation on issues relating to constitutional law and governmental authority.
- Representing university medical school physicians in malpractice cases.
- Handling all litigation with respect to the acquisition of property and property rights under the state’s eminent domain authority.
- Providing legal representation to the state, the university and their employees in tort cases.
- Protecting and pursuing the state’s subrogation interests with respect to benefits paid from the State’s funds.
- Representing state agencies in worker’s compensation matters.
- Defending the Division of Hearings and Appeals’ decisions in the areas of probation, parole, and extended supervision revocation.
- Defending state agency decisions, such as licensing decisions of the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
- Defending the state and its agents in cases challenging their public records and open meeting decisions.
- Providing legal defense in employment discrimination actions brought against the state, it agencies, the university system, and state employees.
- Defending the state and its agencies in environmental or natural resource related lawsuits.
- Representing the state’s interests in federal environmental cases upon authorization from the Governor.
- Defending the state on environmental matters related to Indian law.
Attorneys at DOJ defend against lawsuits that allege violations of civil rights including:
- Search, seizure, and use of force by state law enforcement agencies.
- Conditions of confinement in state correctional and health service institutions.
- Infringement of First Amendment rights.
- Infringement of Due Process and Equal Protection rights.
- Challenges to Department of Corrections’ administrative decisions in the areas of discipline, classification, parole, and seizure of property.
Attorneys at DOJ provide a primary role in prosecuting sexual predator commitments in counties across the state and handle post-commitment proceedings in those cases.
Complex and sometimes high-profile cases involving challenges to the validity of state statutes and administrative rules are also handled by DOJ attorneys.