Loren Lippincott
The office of the Nebraska attorney general traces its roots to the state’s 1875 constitution, which establishes it as one of six statewide elected positions alongside the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor and treasurer. The attorney general is elected every four years on a partisan ballot, with no term limits.
To be eligible, the candidate must be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen and a Nebraska resident for at least five years before the election. If a vacancy occurs, the governor is authorized to appoint a successor to fill the vacancy until the next election. Whereas in some other states the attorney general is appointed by the governor, in Nebraska the office is elected independently to ensure the AG’s direct accountability to voters.
The office has evolved from what was a part-time position in the 19th century to a full-fledged state department with a full-time head.
As Nebraska’s chief legal officer and top advocate for the public interest, the attorney general upholds the rule of law, protects citizens, and represents state agencies across diverse legal matters. The office is currently held by Mike Hilgers, a Republican. He assumed office as the state’s 33rd attorney general on Jan. 5, 2023, after winning the 2022 election.
Hilgers, with a background in private litigation and prior service as speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, leads an office that prioritizes public safety, constitutional integrity and resource protection.
The attorney general’s duties, as outlined in Nebraska Revised Statutes § 84-205, include defending the U.S. and Nebraska Constitutions and state laws.
Key responsibilities encompass appearing in and defending actions against the state, prosecuting election law violations, advising county attorneys on criminal and revenue issues and providing support in official bond or contract matters when requested by state leaders.
The office promotes strong law enforcement by assisting local prosecutors, particularly in rural counties with limited resources, in complex cases involving serious crimes such as murder, drug trafficking and child abuse or sexual exploitation. In civil matters, the Civil Litigation Bureau defends the state, agencies, and officials against lawsuits, including employment, civil rights, and tort claims, while the Legal Services Bureau advises on compliance, contracts and administrative issues. The office issues formal legal opinions on statute interpretation, proposes legislation to address emerging threats (e.g., scams or criminal procedure reforms), and litigates in areas like environmental protection, water rights, antitrust, utility regulation and tax disputes.
Specialized units handle Medicaid fraud, patient abuse, health professional licensing violations, and transportation issues. The office also collaborates on interstate matters, joins multi-state lawsuits and supports initiatives for open government, youth safety and anti-trafficking. Citizens most often interact with the office through consumer protection and public safeguards. The Public Protection/ Consumer Protection Bureau addresses deceptive trade practices, fraud and charitable oversight. It educates Nebraskans, especially vulnerable groups like seniors, on preventing scams and provides mediation or potential fund recovery via the Consumer Affairs Response Team (CART). Common complaints involve misleading business practices, imposter scams, identity theft, faulty home repairs, auto sales fraud, online shopping issues, pyramid schemes, deceptive advertising, charity misuse, data breaches, Medicaid fraud, patient neglect, human trafficking suspicions or violent crime victim assistance.
The office does not offer personal legal representation or handle private disputes. For issues like that, citizens should seek private legal counsel. Most reports of violations are submitted online at ProtectTheGoodLife.
Nebraska.gov, by calling (402) 471-2682 or the consumer line, or via email. These interactions enable residents to support investigations, enforcement, settlements and statewide alerts.
This broad mandate, from criminal support and civil defense to consumer advocacy and public education, allows the attorney general to safeguard economic interests, public resources, transparency and vulnerable populations while issuing timely warnings on risks such as cryptocurrency scams or holiday charity fraud.
Loren Lippincott represents Legislative District 34 in the Nebraska State Senate. Read his column in the Nance County Journal.