CHAPTER 18. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

§701. Department of Justice; creation; domicile; purposes and functions

A. The Department of Justice is created and shall be a body corporate with the power to sue and be sued. The domicile of the department shall be in Baton Rouge.

B. The attorney general shall serve as the executive head and chief administrative officer of the Department of Justice and shall have the responsibility for the policies of the department and for the administration, control, and operation of the functions, programs, and affairs of the department.

C. The Department of Justice, through its offices and officers, shall be responsible for performing the functions of the attorney general.

D.(1) The Department of Justice shall be composed of the executive office of the attorney general, the civil division, the public protection division, the criminal division, the investigation division, the litigation division, the gaming division, the federalism division, and the administrative services division. The executive office of the attorney general shall be comprised of such personnel and organizational subunits as shall be necessary to carry out the functions of the attorney general as the executive head and chief administrative officer of the department, including legal services.

(2) Whenever the attorney general determines that the administration of the functions of the department may be more efficiently performed by eliminating, merging, or consolidating existing offices (divisions), or establishing new offices (divisions), he shall present a plan therefor to the legislature for its approval by statute.

E.(1) The officers of the department shall be the attorney general, the chief deputy attorney general, and the respective directors of the divisions created by this Chapter. They shall perform functions as provided in this Title. With the exception of the attorney general, they shall be selected as provided in this Title.

(2) No person serving as any one of the above officers shall receive any additional salary from the state other than that salary which he receives by virtue of serving in any one of such offices. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, subject to approval of the attorney general, any person serving as an officer of the department may receive additional compensation for part-time services rendered as an instructor in postsecondary educational institutions or as a member of the National Guard.

Added by Acts 1977, No. 83, §1, eff. June 22, 1977; Acts 1988, No. 859, §1; Acts 1992, No. 866, §1; Acts 1993, No. 610, §1, eff. June 15, 1993; Acts 2018, No. 432, §5, eff. June 30, 2018.