Assistant Attorneys General: Robert D.
Feinstein, Carla Goldman Katzenberg, Rachel
E. Pappafotis

Maryland Stadium Authority

Alison L. Asti, Counsel (410) 333-1560

State Treasurer

Elizabeth S. Roese, Counsel (410) 974-5927
Pamila J. Brown, Deputy Counsel

ATTORNEY GENERAL

J. Joseph Curran, Jr., Attorney General

200 St. Paul Place
Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 576-6311

The office of Attorney General was established
by the Constitution of 1776 (sec. 48). In 1817, the
office was abolished by Constitutional amendment
(Chapter 247, Acts of 1816, ratified 1817). The
General Assembly in 1818 recreated the office by
statute (Chapter 146, Acts of 1817). By 1851, the
Attorney General's duties were fulfilled by a State's
Attorney in each county and in Baltimore City
(Const. 1851, Art. V, sec. 3) The office of Attorney
General was reestablished by the Constitution of
1864 (Art V, sec 1).
The Attorney General heads the Office of the
Attorney General, formerly known as the State Law
Department, which was established in 1916 (Chap-
ter 560, Acts of 1916). The Attorney General serves
as legal counsel to the Governor, the General As-
sembly, the Judiciary, and to all State agencies,
except the State Ethics Commission, which ap-
points its own counsel, and the Human Relations
Commission and the Public Service Commission,
whose counsel is appointed by the Governor. The
Attorney General may render an opinion on any
legal subject or matter upon the request of the
Governor, the General Assembly (or either house
thereof), or a State agency.
In all matters in which the interests of the State
are involved, the Attorney General and assistant
attorneys general represent the State. This includes
litigation in the Court of Appeals, the Court of
Special Appeals, the Circuit Courts, the District
Court of Maryland, as well as the Supreme Court
of the United States, the United States Circuit
Courts, and the United States District Courts.
Administrative rules and regulations promulgated
by a State officer or agency must be submitted to
the Attorney General for review before they may
become effective.
The Clerks of Court, the Registers of Wills, the
Sheriffs, and the State's Attorneys of the counties
and Baltimore City also are represented by the
Attorney General's Office. Yet, the Office does not
represent boards or officials of the counties or
Baltimore City that employ their own counsel, such

as the Boards of Education, or the Boards of Su-
pervisors of Elections (except in Baltimore City).
The Attorney General co-chairs the Family Vio-
lence Council. The Attorney General also serves on
the Board of State Canvassers, the Cabinet Council
on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, the Commission
on Correctional Standards, the Police Training
Commission, the Correctional Training Commis-
sion, the Criminal Justice Information Advisory
Board, the State Board of Victim Services, the State
Prosecutor Selection and Disabilities Commission,
and the Maryland State Employees Surety Bond
Committee. The Attorney General also is a member
of the Governor's Commission on Adoption, and
the Task Force to Study Anti-Asian Violence.
The Attorney General is elected by the voters to
a four-year term (Const., Art. V, sec. 1). The num-
ber of consecutive terms which an Attorney General
may serve is not limited. The Attorney General
must be a citizen of the State and a qualified voter
who has resided and practiced law in Maryland for
at least ten years prior to election. Though not
specified by law, the Attorney General by custom
takes office on December 20 following the election.

DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

Carmen M. Shepard, Deputy Attorney General
(410) 576-6342

The Deputy Attorney General oversees admini-
stration, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and six
divisions: Antitrust, Civil Litigation, Consumer Pro-
tection, Contract Litigation, Criminal Appeals, and
Criminal Investigations. The Deputy Attorney Gen-
eral also is responsible for assistant attorneys general
assigned to certain State government agencies.

PRO BONO PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Jack Schwartz, Chair
(410) 576-6327

Formed in 1989, the Pro Bono Program Com-
mittee coordinates and oversees the Attorney Gen-
eral's Pro Bono Program. Under this program, the
first of its kind in the country, lawyers in the
Attorney General's Office donate their time to
provide legal services to the poor. Appointed by the
Attorney General, the Committee sets policy for
the Program, provides its administrative support,
and resolves any question about potential conflicts
of interest.

ANTITRUST DIVISION
Ellen S. Cooper, Chief
Alan M. Barr, Deputy Chief

200 St. Paul Place
Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 576-6470