Attorney General
Here's a look at documents from state attorneys general
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Va. A.G. Jones Statement on SCOTUS Voting Rights Decision
RICHMOND, Virginia, April 30 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following statement on April 29, 2026:
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Attorney General Jay Jones Statement on SCOTUS Voting Rights Decision
Today, Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following statement in response to the ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States in Louisiana v. Callais.
"Today, the Supreme Court of the United States took yet another step in dismantling the long-standing protections provided by the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The landmark, bipartisan, passage of the Voting Rights Act arose from the determination
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RICHMOND, Virginia, April 30 -- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following statement on April 29, 2026:
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Attorney General Jay Jones Statement on SCOTUS Voting Rights Decision
Today, Attorney General Jay Jones issued the following statement in response to the ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States in Louisiana v. Callais.
"Today, the Supreme Court of the United States took yet another step in dismantling the long-standing protections provided by the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The landmark, bipartisan, passage of the Voting Rights Act arose from the determinationand perseverance of Black citizens who fought tirelessly and gave their lives over the course of a century so that their children and future generations could cast their vote and participate in our democracy.
For over 60 years, the law has served as an essential tool for combatting the legacy of Jim Crow, fighting ongoing efforts to weaken the political power of Black and brown communities, and securing our democracy. Congress repeatedly reenacted the law, and courts, including the Supreme Court, repeatedly upheld it. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court's decision today ignores that precedent and further undermines the already fragile state of our democracy.
I want to assure Virginians that my office will always fight to defend not only the right to vote but also equal representation under the law, and any efforts to illegally disenfranchise or impede access to the ballot box will be met with swift and aggressive legal action."
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Original text here: https://www.oag.state.va.us/media-center/news-releases/3013-attorney-general-jay-jones-statement-on-scotus-voting-rights-decision
Statement From Md. A.G. Brown on Supreme Court Decision on Voting Rights Act
BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 30 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement on April 29, 2026:
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Statement from Attorney General Brown on Supreme Court Decision on Voting Rights Act
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court of the United States' decision in Louisiana v. Callais, in which the Court, in a 6-3 ruling, significantly weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, making it more difficult to challenge racially discriminatory redistricting maps:
"The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, April 30 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement on April 29, 2026:
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Statement from Attorney General Brown on Supreme Court Decision on Voting Rights Act
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court of the United States' decision in Louisiana v. Callais, in which the Court, in a 6-3 ruling, significantly weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, making it more difficult to challenge racially discriminatory redistricting maps:
"The Voting Rights Act of 1965 waswritten because generations of Americans, Black Americans in particular, were systematically locked out of the fundamental right that makes all other rights possible: the right to vote. Today, the Supreme Court dealt a devastating blow to that law, and to the people it was written to protect. This decision guts a signature achievement of the civil rights movement and moves the nation away from its highest ideals.
Maryland will not stand idly by as decades of civil rights protections are dismantled, nor will this Office stand down. I was proud to support the Maryland Voting Rights Act of 2026, which Governor Moore signed into law just yesterday. Maryland did not wait for Washington to act. We built our own backstop. Today's ruling makes that law more important than ever.
The right to vote is the foundation of everything we are as a democracy. I will not stop fighting to defend it."
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Statement-from-Attorney-General-Brown-on-Supreme-Court-Decision-on-Voting-Rights-Act--.aspx
Statement From A.G. Davenport on Justice Dept. Challenge to New Jersey Law Enforcement Officer Protection Act
TRENTON, New Jersey, April 30 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following statement on April 29, 2026, on the U.S. Department of Justice challenge to the N.J. Law Enforcement Officer Protection Act:
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"The New Jersey Law Enforcement Officer Protection Act protects both law enforcement and the public by limiting the use of masking while including careful exceptions to protect law enforcement safety and operational needs.
To this day, the Federal Government still cannot explain when its officials need to mask or forgo identification in violation of this law, or why
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TRENTON, New Jersey, April 30 -- New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued the following statement on April 29, 2026, on the U.S. Department of Justice challenge to the N.J. Law Enforcement Officer Protection Act:
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"The New Jersey Law Enforcement Officer Protection Act protects both law enforcement and the public by limiting the use of masking while including careful exceptions to protect law enforcement safety and operational needs.
To this day, the Federal Government still cannot explain when its officials need to mask or forgo identification in violation of this law, or whythey actually need to do so, particularly given the serious safety concerns inherent in anonymized policing.
New Jersey responded thoughtfully and carefully to these profound public safety concerns, and we look forward to responding in court.
The Federal Government's contrary approach will only undermine public trust and accountability, and make it easier for criminals to impersonate our officers."
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Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/statement-from-attorney-general-davenport-on-u-s-department-of-justice-challenge-to-new-jersey-law-enforcement-officer-protection-act/
S.D. A.G. Jackley, DCI Rule March 31 Sioux Falls Police Department Officer Involved Shooting Justified
PIERRE, South Dakota, April 30 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on April 29, 2026:
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Attorney General Jackley, DCI Rule March 31 Sioux Falls Police Department Officer Involved Shooting Justifiedpress release image
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) review has determined that two Sioux Falls Police Department Violent Crimes Unit (VCU) detectives were justified in their use of force during an Officer Involved Shooting that occurred March 31 in Sioux Falls.
"This
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PIERRE, South Dakota, April 30 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on April 29, 2026:
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Attorney General Jackley, DCI Rule March 31 Sioux Falls Police Department Officer Involved Shooting Justifiedpress release image
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) review has determined that two Sioux Falls Police Department Violent Crimes Unit (VCU) detectives were justified in their use of force during an Officer Involved Shooting that occurred March 31 in Sioux Falls.
"Thissuspect pointed a weapon at the detectives and threatened to harm others at the scene," said Attorney General Jackley. "Based on the evidence collected in the investigation, the two detectives were justified in their use of force. This case demonstrates the importance of K-9 units keeping communities safe across South Dakota."
The March 31 incident began when members of the VCU located Richard Olson Jr., 36 of Sioux Falls, in a vehicle at a Sioux Falls business. The unit had previously received information that Olson Jr. was in possession of a firearm while on federal probation. There was an active federal warrant for Olson Jr.'s arrest for a federal probation violation.
VCU detectives used their vehicles to block Olson Jr.'s vehicle from leaving the scene. Olson Jr. was seen in the vehicle pointing a pistol at his head. A female passenger left the suspect's vehicle and was removed from the scene by law enforcement.
Olson Jr. later exited the vehicle and refused to comply with the detectives' commands. The suspect pulled a pistol from his sweatshirt and pointed it at the detectives.
Two detectives fired at Olson Jr. He was not struck but fell backward to the ground. The suspect then tried to run from the scene, but a Sioux Falls Police Department K-9 was deployed and apprehended Olson Jr.
Olson Jr. sustained minor injuries from the dog bite and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. He was later taken into custody. The two detectives were not injured.
DCI processed the crime scene, conducted a forensic examination of evidence, interviewed those involved, and reviewed all available video from traffic surveillance cameras, in-car cameras and body worn cameras. The Smith and Wesson .40-caliber pistol, which was dropped by Olson Jr., was recovered at the scene.
Olson's blood and urine samples tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine. Blood and urine samples of the detectives tested negative for alcohol or illegal drugs.
When Olson Jr. was arrested, he was in possession of a white powdery substance. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine.
Olson Jr. had a history of criminal offenses including assault against law enforcement, aggravated assault without a weapon, domestic assault, and possession of controlled substances.
Law enforcement agencies that assisted DCI were the South Dakota Forensic Lab, South Dakota State Health Lab, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office. The Sioux Falls Police Department cooperated with the investigation.
Attorney General Jackley said Olson Jr. is in custody, and charges are pending with the Minnehaha County State's Attorney's Office. The defendant is presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.
This is the second Officer Involved Shooting in South Dakota this year,
Link to the Officer Involved Shooting can be found here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=3062
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Original text here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=3062
S.D. A.G. Jackley Releases Draft Explanation on Proposed Constitutional Amendment Establishing a Trust for Unclaimed Property Fund
PIERRE, South Dakota, April 30 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on April 29, 2026:
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Attorney General Jackley Releases Draft Explanation on Proposed Constitutional Amendment Establishing a Trust for Unclaimed Property Fund
As required by state law, the South Dakota Attorney General's Office has drafted an explanation for a Constitutional Amendment proposed by the Legislature that would establish a trust for the state's Unclaimed Property Fund. The draft explanation has been filed with the Secretary of State's Office.
Attorney General Marty
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PIERRE, South Dakota, April 30 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release on April 29, 2026:
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Attorney General Jackley Releases Draft Explanation on Proposed Constitutional Amendment Establishing a Trust for Unclaimed Property Fund
As required by state law, the South Dakota Attorney General's Office has drafted an explanation for a Constitutional Amendment proposed by the Legislature that would establish a trust for the state's Unclaimed Property Fund. The draft explanation has been filed with the Secretary of State's Office.
Attorney General MartyJackley takes no position on any such proposal for purposes of the ballot explanation. He has provided a fair and neutral explanation to help assist the voters as required by state law.
Sen. Taffy Howard and Rep. Chris Kassin are listed as the prime sponsors of the proposal which was approved by the 2025 South Dakota Legislature.
The ballot explanation can be found here (https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=3063).
State law requires the Attorney General draft a title and explanation for each initiated measure, initiated constitutional amendment, constitutional amendment proposed by the Legislature, or referred measure that may appear on an election ballot. The Attorney General's explanation is meant to be an "objective, clear, and simple summary" intended to "educate the voters of the purpose and effect of the proposed" measure, as well as identify the "legal consequences" of each measure.
Once the Attorney General has filed and posted the draft explanation, the public has 10 days to provide written comment. The explanation was filed April 29, 2026, and the deadline for comments on this explanation is May 9, 2026, at the close of business in Pierre, South Dakota. The final explanation is due to the Secretary of State on May 19, 2026.
If approved, the explanation will accompany the proposal on the 2026 general election ballot which is Nov. 3.
To file written comments regarding the language of the explanation, not the merits of the proprosal, please use one of the following methods below. Copies of all comments received by the deadline will be posted on this website.
Comments may be submitted via mail, or through hand delivery, to the Attorney General's Office at:
Office of the Attorney General
Ballot Comment
1302 S.D. E. Hwy. 1889, Suite #1
Pierre, SD 57501
Comments that are hand delivered must be received by the close of business in Pierre, South Dakota, by May 9, 2026.
Comments may also be emailed to ATGballotcomments@state.sd.us by May 9, 2026 Comments should be clearly expressed in the body of the email. The Attorney General's Office will not open attachments in an effort to prevent malware or other digital threats. Please include your name and contact information when submitting your comment. The title of the comment must be included in the subject line of the email.
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Original text here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=3063
Ariz. A.G. Mayes Condemns Trump Administration's Gutting of Federal Law Enforcement
PHOENIX, Arizona, April 30 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following statement on April 29, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Condemns Trump Administration's Gutting of Federal Law Enforcement
Records Reveal 4,000+ Law Enforcement Jobs Eliminated While Trump Claimed to Be Tough on Crime
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Attorney General Kris Mayes today issued the following statement in response to the release of federal records, obtained by Reuters under the Freedom of Information Act, revealing that the Trump administration has eliminated more than 4,000 positions across the nation's top federal law
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PHOENIX, Arizona, April 30 -- Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued the following statement on April 29, 2026:
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Attorney General Mayes Condemns Trump Administration's Gutting of Federal Law Enforcement
Records Reveal 4,000+ Law Enforcement Jobs Eliminated While Trump Claimed to Be Tough on Crime
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Attorney General Kris Mayes today issued the following statement in response to the release of federal records, obtained by Reuters under the Freedom of Information Act, revealing that the Trump administration has eliminated more than 4,000 positions across the nation's top federal lawenforcement agencies -- even as the President has repeatedly promised to crack down on crime.
"The Trump administration has been lying to the American people. You cannot claim to be tough on crime while systematically dismantling the agencies that fight it," said Attorney General Mayes. "When the federal government cuts thousands of law enforcement positions like the Trump administration has done over the past year, the burden falls on state and local law enforcement agencies that are already stretched thin. I am grateful for the partnerships we have with those who remain at federal agencies and help keep Arizonans safe, but these cuts make that work harder. You cannot expect the same results with a fraction of the federal workforce."
According to records obtained by Reuters from the Justice Department:
* The FBI has lost more than 2,600 employees -- a drop of over 7% since fiscal year 2024.
* The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has lost approximately 6% of its workforce, even as fentanyl and meth and other illicit drugs devastate Arizona communities.
* The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has cut roughly 14% of its staff as firearms are increasingly being trafficked illegally from the US to Mexico.
* The DOJ's National Security Division -- which handles terrorism and espionage cases -- has lost nearly 38% of its personnel, with its Congressional budget request citing "unprecedented personnel constraints."
According to reports, these cuts have led to the lowest level of federal prosecutions for drug trafficking in over two decades. And additional reporting by ProPublica shows that the DOJ quietly closed over 23,000 cases last year, "abandoning hundreds of investigations into terrorism, white-collar crime, drugs and other offenses." While state and local agencies have had to pick up slack from federal law enforcement, the Trump Administration has sought to defund over $800 million in local law enforcement and public safety grants.
"We need more robust support from the federal government in Arizona to go after the drug cartels pushing poison into our communities, as well as to combat fraud, waste, and abuse and other white collar crimes," said Attorney General Mayes. "Instead, the Trump administration has pushed highly-qualified career law enforcement agents out of their jobs by the thousands and it will only make all of us less safe. This administration has quite literally defunded the police."
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Original text here: https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-condemns-trump-administrations-gutting-federal-law-enforcement
A.G. Office: State Grand Jury Declines to Criminally Charge Perth Amboy Police Lieutenant in Connection With July 6, 2025 Fatal Crash in Woodbridge, N.J.
TRENTON, New Jersey, April 30 -- The New Jersey Attorney General Office issued the following news release on April 29, 2026:
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State Grand Jury Declines to Criminally Charge Perth Amboy Police Lieutenant in Connection with July 6, 2025 Fatal Crash in Woodbridge, N.J.
A state grand jury has voted not to file any criminal charges at the conclusion of its deliberations regarding the death of Joseph E. Acevedo-Rodriguez, 26, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, who died in a fatal moped accident following an attempted traffic stop by Perth Amboy Police Lieutenant Jose M. Pais on July 6, 2025.
Mr. Acevedo-Rodriguez's
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TRENTON, New Jersey, April 30 -- The New Jersey Attorney General Office issued the following news release on April 29, 2026:
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State Grand Jury Declines to Criminally Charge Perth Amboy Police Lieutenant in Connection with July 6, 2025 Fatal Crash in Woodbridge, N.J.
A state grand jury has voted not to file any criminal charges at the conclusion of its deliberations regarding the death of Joseph E. Acevedo-Rodriguez, 26, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, who died in a fatal moped accident following an attempted traffic stop by Perth Amboy Police Lieutenant Jose M. Pais on July 6, 2025.
Mr. Acevedo-Rodriguez'sdeath was investigated by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) and presented to New Jersey residents serving on the grand jury, in accordance with the Independent Prosecutor Directive. That Attorney General directive was issued following the enactment of a state law requiring the Attorney General's Office to investigate deaths that occur during encounters with law enforcement.
The investigation included witness interviews, photographs, police radio transmissions, multiple 911 calls, footage from a mobile video recorder and surveillance cameras, as well as autopsy results from the state medical examiner. This evidence, including video of the incident, was presented to a state grand jury. After hearing the testimony and evidence, the grand jury finished deliberating on April 27, 2026 and voted "no bill," concluding no criminal charges should be filed against Lieutenant Pais.
According to the investigation, at approximately 12:05 a.m., three individuals were operating motorized scooters in the area of State Street and High Street in Perth Amboy when Lieutenant Pais, who was driving a marked police vehicle, attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop of the group.
Lieutenant Pais activated his overhead lights and siren. Two of the three moped riders continued driving and left the scene. The third individual, Mr. Acevedo-Rodriguez, initially pulled over on the shoulder of State Street and then accelerated and drove away northbound at a high rate of speed.
Lieutenant Pais followed the moped until the vehicles crossed the border into Woodbridge. The lieutenant deactivated his vehicle's lights and sirens, made a U-turn, and returned to Perth Amboy. Shortly thereafter, and approximately a quarter mile north on State Street, between Arbor and Ferry streets, Woodbridge police responded to multiple 911 calls about a motor vehicle crash. Responding officers found Mr. Acevedo-Rodriguez lying in the road with the moped some distance away. Subsequent investigation - which included an eyewitness account, video surveillance footage, and the collection of physical evidence - revealed that Acevedo-Rodriguez had struck a curb and a nearby chain-link fence before he returned to the roadway and was ejected from the motor scooter. An eyewitness reported that Acevedo-Rodriguez was going at a high speed on a curved road when he lost control of the moped. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Footage related to this crash, recorded by a dashboard camera and a surveillance camera, was previously released. Those recordings are posted online: https://njoag.box.com/s/e6uu3bg1ocfjwlnnf0guupyicygnuqrd
A 2019 law, N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2), requires the Attorney General's Office to conduct investigations of a person's death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer's official capacity or while the decedent is in custody. It requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury to determine if the evidence supports the return of an indictment against the officer or officers involved. The grand jury is instructed on the elements of the potential criminal offenses, including criminal homicide offenses, that could be brought and, as required by statutes, the grand jury is instructed on self-defense and other forms of legal justification.
A conflicts check was conducted pursuant to the Independent Prosecutor Directive and no actual or potential conflict of interest was found involving any individual assigned to the investigation. Prior to presentation to the grand jury, the investigation was reviewed by Deputy First Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Kormann in accordance with the policies and procedures established for these presentations.
Now that the investigation has concluded, pursuant to the Independent Prosecutor Directive and SOPs, OPIA will determine whether any officer should be referred to the appropriate law enforcement agency for administrative review in accordance with the AG's Internal Affairs Policy & Procedures. OPIA will monitor any resulting review and take actions necessary to ensure that the review is completed in a timely fashion, and that appropriate actions are taken based on the results of the review.
Further information about how fatal police encounters are investigated in New Jersey under the Independent Prosecutor Directive can be found here: https://www.nj.gov/oag/dcj/agguide/directives/ag-Directive-2019-4.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.njoag.gov/state-grand-jury-declines-to-criminally-charge-perth-amboy-police-lieutenant-in-connection-with-july-6-2025-fatal-crash-in-woodbridge-n-j/
