DEFINING THE DUTIES OF THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL.

 

Section 1.  The Attorney-General, appointed by virtue of the 42d Article of the Constitution, shall appear for the Crown or Government personally or by deputy, in all the courts of record of this Kingdom, in all cases criminal or civil in which the Crown or Government may be a party, or be interested, and he shall in like manner appear in the police and district courts when requested so to do by the marshal of the Kingdom or the sheriff of any one of the Islands.

 

Section 2.  He shall also be vigilant and active in detecting offenders against the laws of the Kingdom, and shall prosecute the same with diligence.  It shall also be his duty to enforce all bonds and other obligations in favor of Government that may be placed in his hands for that purpose, by any person having the lawful custody of such papers; and he shall likewise be diligent in prosecuting all persons who may obstruct any street, channel, harbor, wharf or other highway, or any stream or public watercourse, or commit any trespass, or waste on any portion of the public domain, or other public property.

 

Section 3.  The said Attorney-General shall, without charge, at all times when called upon, give advice and counsel to the Ministers, Governors, the marshal, sheriffs, collectors, justices and other public officers, in all matters connected with their public duties, and otherwise aid and assist them in every way requisite to enable them to perform their duties faithfully.

 

Section 4.  It shall also be the duty of the said Attorney-General to give counsel and aid to poor and oppressed subjects of the King, and to assist them in obtaining their just rights without charge; provided, however, that he shall not be obliged to render such aid, counsel and assistance, unless requested so to do by the King, or by some one of the King’s Ministers or Governors.

 

Section 5.  Said Attorney-General shall not receive any fee or reward from or in behalf of any person or prosecutor, for services rendered in any prosecution or business to which it shall be his official duty to attend; nor be concerned as counsel or attorney for either party in any civil action depending upon the same state of facts.

 

Section 6.  He shall account with the Minister of Finance every three months for all fees, bills of costs, fines, penalties, and other moneys received by him by virtue of his office.

 

Section 7.  Said Attorney-General shall, when required, give his opinions upon questions of law submitted to him by the King, the Legislative Assembly, or the head of any department.

 

Section 8.  The said Attorney-General shall receive such salary as may be voted from time to time by the Legislature, which shall be paid to him out of the public treasury in equal monthly payments in full for all services rendered by him.

 

Section 9.  The Attorney-General may from time to time appoint a deputy for any judicial district, whensoever the exigencies of the public service may require it, and shall be responsible for all the acts of such deputy or deputies.

 

Section 10.  All the duties imposed by existing laws on district attorneys formerly are hereby required to be performed by the Attorney-General, and Chapter 23d of the Civil Code from section 1080 to 1095, and the Act entitled “An Act for the appointment of an Attorney General,” passed on the 30th day of June, A.D. 1862, are hereby repealed.

 

Approved this 27th day of July, A.D. 1866.

 

 

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