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renders written opinions which are published. These
opinions are not only highly regarded by the courts, fre-
quently cited, but they are relied on as evidence of admini-
strative practice, aside from the worth of their legal
reasoning
A second thing is that he represents the legis- :
lature and performs a most useful function there. It is
of great advantage to the legislature to have the advice
of the man at the formative stage of legislation who must
defend it in the courts, and his opinion is worthwhile, not
only as to the constitutionality, but I know from experience
that in many instances without getting into the policy field
at all the attorney general or his aides are able to
advise the legislature as to the deletion of a certain clausie
which might cause legal difficulties without the change
in language, or that proposed legislation may cut across
some existing statute or other part of the code.
That is of immense value, and if the legislature
had its own counsel who would not have to defend it in court,
it would present an entirely different picture.
The attorney general, the office in its present
form was set up in 1916 by Attorney General Ritchie