Attorney General
Here's a look at documents from state attorneys general
Featured Stories
S.D. A.G. Jackley Issues Statement on President Trump's Executive Order on Reclassification of Marijuana
PIERRE, South Dakota, Dec. 20 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following statement on Dec. 19, 2025:
* * *
Attorney General Jackley Issues Statement on President Trump's Executive Order on Reclassification of Marijuana
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued this statement on President Trump's Executive Order on the reclassification of marijuana in order to increase research on the drug's medical use.
Thursday at 4:30 CST, Attorney General Jackley, along with other Attorneys General, had a conference call with the White House regarding the implementation
... Show Full Article
PIERRE, South Dakota, Dec. 20 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following statement on Dec. 19, 2025:
* * *
Attorney General Jackley Issues Statement on President Trump's Executive Order on Reclassification of Marijuana
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued this statement on President Trump's Executive Order on the reclassification of marijuana in order to increase research on the drug's medical use.
Thursday at 4:30 CST, Attorney General Jackley, along with other Attorneys General, had a conference call with the White House regarding the implementationand effect of the President's Executive Order and greatly appreciates President Trump's Administration's open and continued dialogue with the Attorneys General. It was emphasized that President Trump's interest is to facilitate research on the medical value of marijuana made possible by the rescheduling of marijuana.
It is important to recognize that the federal rescheduling of marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug does not criminally legalize marijuana under federal law. Also, current federal law also does not permit a licensed physician to prescribe marijuana until marijuana receives FDA approval.
Marijuana use and possession is also illegal under South Dakota state law for recreational use, and permissible only for medical purposes with a valid prescription, a medical card, and from a licensed medical marijuana facility.
The Executive Order can be found here (http://us4.my-proxy.com/index.php?q=nqSo0dieX2ipqa9k28ycqp6d1aWsyWPM1ahhotOVpZ6alaLVzsWcZpOVrJ_T0qZla2WYZWiVZ5TPoJWkxpGlnqSXYc7KyJmck55lo8XWnKCultSRZsWjyZOVk6DPkZSempmjzZLWlayXk6qZzJM):
* * *
Original text here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=2971
S.D. A.G. Jackley Announces Indictments In Death of State Prison Inmate Travis Long Fox
PIERRE, South Dakota, Dec. 20 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release:
* * *
Attorney General Jackley Announces Indictments In Death of State Prison Inmate Travis Long Fox
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that two people, one a prison employee and an inmate, have been indicted on nine combined felony charges in connection with the Nov. 7, 2025, drug overdose death of State Penitentiary inmate Travis Long Fox, who was 33.
Natalie Bernice Krause, 25, of Tea, who worked as medical aide, and Cole Roberts Waters, 26, who is a prison inmate,
... Show Full Article
PIERRE, South Dakota, Dec. 20 -- South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued the following news release:
* * *
Attorney General Jackley Announces Indictments In Death of State Prison Inmate Travis Long Fox
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that two people, one a prison employee and an inmate, have been indicted on nine combined felony charges in connection with the Nov. 7, 2025, drug overdose death of State Penitentiary inmate Travis Long Fox, who was 33.
Natalie Bernice Krause, 25, of Tea, who worked as medical aide, and Cole Roberts Waters, 26, who is a prison inmate,were both indicted Tuesday in Minnehaha County Circuit Court.
"The introduction of illegal drugs into our correctional facilities endangers inmates and staff and has led to an inmate's death," said Attorney General Jackley. "We will continue to hold those undermining the safety and security of our prisons accountable."
Both defendants were indicted on one count each of:
*** Distribution of a Controlled Substance (Synthetic Cannabinoids) Resulting in Death. The mandatory minimum sentence is one year in prison and a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
*** Aiding, Abetting or Advising Distribution of a Controlled Substance (Synthetic Cannabinoids) Resulting in Death. The mandatory minimum sentence is one year in prison and a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
*** Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Synthetic Cannabinoids) Resulting in Death. The mandatory minimum sentence is one year in prison and a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
*** Distribution of a Controlled Substance (Synthetic Cannabinoids). The mandatory minimum sentence is one year in prison and a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Krause also was indicted on one count of Possession of an Unauthorized Article (Synthetic Cannabinoids) with Intent to Deliver to an Inmate. The maximum sentence is 10 years in prison.
Waters is currently serving a 65-year prison sentence for a First Degree Manslaughter conviction from Pennington County. He could face a doubling of the sentence for any of the new charges if found guilty.
The next court hearings for Krause and Waters have not yet been scheduled. They are presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.
Charges have now been filed in three of the eight suspected drug overdose deaths of prison inmates investigated this year by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Inmate Manarion (Mare-nar-ion) Fuse and Melibu Ross of Sioux Falls, who was an acquaintance of an inmate, are scheduled to stand trial in January 2026 for distribution of controlled substances that led to the deaths of two different inmates.
Manarion is charged with one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance, synthetic cannabinoids, that resulted in the death of inmate Anthony Richards on Feb. 6, 2025; and one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance, synthetic cannabinoids. Fuse is alleged to have provided the drug to Richards who died that night. He faces a maximum of 70 years in prison.
Melibu Lynn Ross, 49, of Sioux Falls is charged with distribution of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, resulting in the death of inmate Jason Garreau, who died on May 15, 2025. She is alleged to have brought the drug into the prison when she visited Garreau on May 14. She faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
The deaths of the five other inmates remain under investigation.
* * *
Original text here: https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=2972
Okla. AG Opinion Declares Stitt's Tribal Hunting Policy Illegal
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Dec. 20 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2025:
* * *
AG Opinion declares Stitt's tribal hunting policy illegal
Attorney General Gentner Drummond released today a binding legal opinion declaring that federal law prohibits Oklahoma from prosecuting tribal members who hunt and fish on their own reservations. The opinion stands firm against Gov. Stitt's directive to arrest and charge Native Americans exercising their long-held rights.
The formal opinion, requested by Rep. Chris Kannady, confirms what Drummond has
... Show Full Article
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Dec. 20 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on Dec. 18, 2025:
* * *
AG Opinion declares Stitt's tribal hunting policy illegal
Attorney General Gentner Drummond released today a binding legal opinion declaring that federal law prohibits Oklahoma from prosecuting tribal members who hunt and fish on their own reservations. The opinion stands firm against Gov. Stitt's directive to arrest and charge Native Americans exercising their long-held rights.
The formal opinion, requested by Rep. Chris Kannady, confirms what Drummond hasrepeatedly told Gov. Stitt and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC): their enforcement policy is unlawful, wasteful and damaging to the State's relationships with tribal nations.
"The supremacy of federal law dictates that it preempts application of the Oklahoma Wildlife Code to Members and Nonmember Indians hunting and fishing on the Nations' reservations," Drummond wrote. "Tribal citizens should not be deprived of their long-held rights while litigation proceeds."
The Chickasaw, Cherokee and Choctaw Nations filed a federal lawsuit last month challenging the state's enforcement actions, and while the Attorney General typically declines to issue an opinion when a lawsuit on the same topic is pending, Drummond said the extraordinary circumstances here warranted an exception. He also noted that issuing guidance now reduces the State's potential liability exposure.
Much of the opinion is based on the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in New Mexico v. Mescalero Apache Tribe, which held that state wildlife laws cannot be enforced where tribes have established comprehensive wildlife management programs. The Cherokee, Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations all have extensive tribal wildlife codes, including licensing requirements, seasons and bag limits.
"The Nations' codes address the same conservation objectives the State pursues, including species management, habitat protection, and sustainable harvest levels," Drummond wrote.
The opinion also rebuts claims that tribal members would be permitted to engage in illegal hunting practices such as "spotlighting." Drummond called this "demonstrably false," noting that all three Nations' codes explicitly ban such practices. The opinion does not affect the State's authority over non-Indians.
The opinion emphasizes that the tribes have worked collaboratively with ODWC for years, sharing harvest data and maintaining agreements that allow state game wardens to enforce tribal codes.
"The tribes and ODWC have built a successful partnership over many years that serves the conservation interests of all Oklahomans," Drummond said. "We should be strengthening this collaboration, not allowing political agendas to undermine decades of cooperative wildlife management. Oklahomans deserve elected officials who respect the law and these longstanding working relationships."
The opinion is binding on state and local officials unless it is overturned by a court.
Read the Opinion (https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/oag/opinions/ag-opinions/2025/AG%20Opinion%202025-19%202025%20OK%20AG%2019.pdf)
* * *
Original text here: https://oklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2025/december/ag-opinion-declares-stitts-tribal-hunting-policy-illegal.html
Okla. A.G. Drummond Lauds Planned Restoration of Campaign-finance System
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Dec. 20 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2025:
* * *
Drummond lauds planned restoration of campaign-finance system
Attorney General Gentner Drummond said today he is pleased the Ethics Commission intends to promptly restore the state's online campaign finance system after a vendor working with the commission to develop a new system failed to meet its obligations.
The vendor, RFD and Associates Inc., agreed to create a new system to support statutorily mandated filing, review and public disclosure in a timely
... Show Full Article
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, Dec. 20 -- Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2025:
* * *
Drummond lauds planned restoration of campaign-finance system
Attorney General Gentner Drummond said today he is pleased the Ethics Commission intends to promptly restore the state's online campaign finance system after a vendor working with the commission to develop a new system failed to meet its obligations.
The vendor, RFD and Associates Inc., agreed to create a new system to support statutorily mandated filing, review and public disclosure in a timelymanner but has breached its contract. Drummond said he will work to hold RFD and Associates Inc. accountable to the law.
"I take very seriously my role to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent fairly and appropriately," Drummond said. "My office stands ready to take legal action to recover damages, hold those responsible accountable and work with the Ethics Commission to ensure the public has a reliable means to access campaign finance reports."
Drummond also emphasized the importance of the system to public transparency.
"It is critical that citizens have access to campaign-finance reports and that online filing is fully functional," he said. "I appreciate the quick work of the Ethics Commission to ensure transparency as we enter into an election year."
* * *
Original text here: https://oklahoma.gov/oag/news/newsroom/2025/december/drummond-lauds-planned-restoration-of-campaign-finance-system.html
Md. A.G. Brown Announces That No Charges Will Be Filed in the March 21, 2025 Fatal Officer-Involved Vehicle Collision in Prince George's County
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Dec. 20 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2025:
* * *
Attorney General Brown Announces That No Charges Will Be Filed in the March 21, 2025 Fatal Officer-Involved Vehicle Collision in Prince George's County
Today, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced his decision not to seek charges in the Friday, March 21, 2025 fatal officer-involved vehicle collision that occurred in Landover, Prince George's County, Maryland.
On March 21, 2025, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Seat Pleasant Police Department (SPPD) officers
... Show Full Article
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Dec. 20 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2025:
* * *
Attorney General Brown Announces That No Charges Will Be Filed in the March 21, 2025 Fatal Officer-Involved Vehicle Collision in Prince George's County
Today, Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced his decision not to seek charges in the Friday, March 21, 2025 fatal officer-involved vehicle collision that occurred in Landover, Prince George's County, Maryland.
On March 21, 2025, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Seat Pleasant Police Department (SPPD) officersconducted a traffic stop on a Hyundai sedan. The driver of the Hyundai initially complied by stopping for the officers, and then eventually fled. The officers immediately alerted dispatch via radio of the driver's actions and initiated a pursuit which was terminated within approximately 30 seconds. Several nearby Prince George's County Police Department (PGPD) patrol officers who heard the SPPD radio call observed the Hyundai pull into a gas station. As the Hyundai was leaving the gas station, one PGPD officer activated his lights and briefly pursued the car, but the driver of the Hyundai did not stop. Supervisors called off the pursuit, and within seconds the PGPD officer turned off his lights and discontinued pursuit of the Hyundai. Shortly thereafter, the Hyundai ran a red light and collided with an uninvolved Nissan SUV that was traveling through the intersection. The driver of the Hyundai and a juvenile passenger in the Nissan were transported to area hospitals, where they were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Patricia Riddick, the driver of the Nissan, was also transported to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The Attorney General's Independent Investigations Division (IID) began investigating the fatal officer-involved vehicle collision on Friday, March 21, 2025, and concluded its investigation on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. After completing its investigation and evaluating all the available evidence, the Office of the Attorney General has determined that the subject officer did not commit a crime under Maryland law. Accordingly, the Attorney General has declined to prosecute any of the officer in this case.
A copy of the IID's detailed investigative findings and analysis of relevant legal issues can be found in its declination report (https://oag.maryland.gov/resources-info/Documents/pdfs/IID/25-IID-005%20FINAL_Declination%20Report%20Draft%20Prince%20George%27s%20County%20Pursuit%203.21.25%20%28RIDDICK%29_.pdf).
* * *
Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Announces-That-No-Charges-Will-Be-Filed-in-the-March-21,-2025-Fatal-Officer-Involved-Vehicle-Collisi.aspx
Maine A.G. Frey: Court Blocks HUD Changes That Would Have Left Thousands Without Housing
AUGUSTA, Maine, Dec. 20 -- Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey issued the following news release:
* * *
Court Blocks HUD Changes That Would Have Left Thousands Without Housing
A federal judge today ordered the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to preliminarily halt changes to its Continuum of Care grant program -- the largest resource for federal homelessness assistance funding -- after a coalition of states argued in court that the changes were illegal and would leave tens of thousands of people around the country without a place to live.
In her order orally granting a
... Show Full Article
AUGUSTA, Maine, Dec. 20 -- Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey issued the following news release:
* * *
Court Blocks HUD Changes That Would Have Left Thousands Without Housing
A federal judge today ordered the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to preliminarily halt changes to its Continuum of Care grant program -- the largest resource for federal homelessness assistance funding -- after a coalition of states argued in court that the changes were illegal and would leave tens of thousands of people around the country without a place to live.
In her order orally granting apreliminary injunction, U.S. District Court Judge Mary McElroy barred HUD from implementing its proposed changes to the Continuum of Care program and directed HUD to process applications under the terms that existed prior to its unlawful program changes.
A coalition co-led by the attorneys general of Washington, New York, and Rhode Island sued HUD in November for illegally upending support for people experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness by abruptly rescinding a necessary program notice, replacing it with another that limited access to long-term housing and other services. The lawsuit says HUD drastically changed its Continuum of Care grant program in violation of congressional intent by sharply reducing funding for permanent housing and putting unlawful conditions on access to the funding.
The illegal conditions include penalizing housing providers that recognize gender identity and diversity and mandating residents agree to additional conditions to obtain housing. HUD also added illegal conditions to punish providers in localities that do not enforce strict anti-homeless laws and disadvantage programs that address mental disabilities and substance use disorder. Those conditions go against HUD's previous guidance and were not authorized by Congress. The program notice was also issued well after HUD's congressionally-mandated deadline for making program changes, virtually guaranteeing gaps in funding.
"With the court ordering the federal government to simply follow the law and release critical housing program grant funds as Congress directed, stability and the rule of law are being advanced over the chaos and ideological whims of this Administration," said Attorney General Aaron Frey. "By virtue of this preliminary order sought by Maine and a coalition of other states, 1,200 Mainers are protected from homelessness that would undoubtably result from being unlawfully deprived of important housing support promised by Congress."
In Maine, Continuum of Care programs support stable housing for more than 1,800 people, including families with children, seniors, veterans, people with mental and physical disabilities, and survivors of domestic violence.
"I applaud Attorney General Frey for securing this injunction to stop the Trump Administration's cruel policy change, which jeopardized housing for 1,200 people in Maine," said Governor Janet Mills. "This needless and misguided directive would have hurt Maine people and forced Maine cities and towns to grapple with an increased demand for more emergency shelters and services. The Trump Administration should focus on helping people with rising cost of living, not taking away housing from vulnerable people."
In their complaint, 20 attorneys general and two governors argued that HUD's actions were arbitrary and capricious, as HUD made no effort to explain the abandonment of its own longstanding policies, failed to reckon with the obvious consequences of abruptly terminating funding for housing occupied by formerly homeless families and individuals, and violated the law by not following the timeline Congress set for this program and not receiving congressional authorization for these new conditions. The plaintiffs also argued HUD violated its own regulations by not engaging in rulemaking before issuing the changes.
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha are leading the lawsuit, which is joined by Attorney General Frey and the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.maine.gov/ag/news/article.shtml?id=13337519
Judge orders U.S. Department of Education to unwind unlawful cancellation of school mental health grants
OLYMPIA, Washington, Dec. 20 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release:
* * *
Judge orders U.S. Department of Education to unwind unlawful cancellation of school mental health grants
*
The U.S. Department of Education acted unlawfully by abruptly discontinuing previously approved grants to fund extra mental health professionals in K-12 schools, a federal judge ruled in a multistate lawsuit led by Washington Attorney General Nick Brown.
The states succeeded in arguing that the department acted illegally when it told grantees it would discontinue the
... Show Full Article
OLYMPIA, Washington, Dec. 20 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release:
* * *
Judge orders U.S. Department of Education to unwind unlawful cancellation of school mental health grants
*
The U.S. Department of Education acted unlawfully by abruptly discontinuing previously approved grants to fund extra mental health professionals in K-12 schools, a federal judge ruled in a multistate lawsuit led by Washington Attorney General Nick Brown.
The states succeeded in arguing that the department acted illegally when it told grantees it would discontinue themental health program grants because they conflicted with the Trump administration's new priorities. U.S. District Court Judge Kymberly Evanson of the Western District of Washington granted the states' summary judgment motion and ordered the two sides to meet and agree on a timeline for the department to make lawful continuation decisions.
In the wake of devastating school shootings, members of Congress from both parties came together to appropriate $1 billion to permanently bring 14,000 mental health professionals into U.S. schools most in need, especially in low-income and rural communities. The programs have been a successproviding mental and behavioral health services to nearly 775,000 K-12 students nationwide in the first year and reducing wait times for students to receive help.
"We're facing a youth mental health crisis. Making sure our kids have proper support should never be subject to political whim," Brown said. "This is why we stand firm against this administration's utter disregard for the law."
The Department of Education awarded grants spanning a five-year project period, with yearly decisions made on whether to continue each grant's funding. As required by its regulations, the department considered the grantee's performance when deciding whether to continue funding.
But on April 29, the Department of Education abruptly sent boilerplate notices to grantees saying their grants no longer aligned with the Trump administration's priorities and would be discontinued. On June 30, Brown and the other attorneys general challenged that action, saying the department's actions were arbitrary and capricious, violating the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
Judge Evanson agreed with Brown and the other attorneys general that the department violated the APA.
"Nothing in the existing regulatory scheme comports with the Department's view that multi-year grants may be discontinued whenever the political will to do so arises," Evanson wrote.
Her order comes after a three-judge Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Dec. 2 rejected the Department of Education's request for a stay of Evanson's preliminary injunction issued in October. The judges said the department failed in its arguments that the district court lacked jurisdiction in the case.
A copy of the order granting the states' motion for summary judgment is available here. A copy of the appeals court judges' order denying the department's request for a stay is available here.
Joining Brown in the lawsuit were the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
-30-
Washington's Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state's largest law firm, the Attorney General's Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington's 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.
Media Contact:
Email: press@atg.wa.gov
Phone: (360) 753-2727
General contacts: Click here
Media Resource Guide & Attorney General's Office FAQ
***
Original text here: https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/judge-orders-us-department-education-unwind-unlawful-cancellation-school-mental
