City Attorney of San Francisco: Difference between revisions
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The '''City Attorney of San Francisco''' is an elected position in the City and County of San Francisco, California. While [[city-county consolidation]] resulted in the unified government attaining both a city attorney and a [[San Francisco District Attorney's Office|district attorney]], the two positions are separate and serve different purposes. |
The '''City Attorney of San Francisco''' is an elected position in the City and County of San Francisco, California. While [[city-county consolidation]] resulted in the unified government attaining both a city attorney and a [[San Francisco District Attorney's Office|district attorney]], the two positions are separate and serve different purposes. |
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Whereas District Attorney office is, as is the case throughout the United States, charged with prosecuting crime (i.e. has the equivalent function of a Prosecutor's |
Whereas District Attorney office is, as is the case throughout the United States, charged with prosecuting crime (i.e. has the equivalent function of a [Prosecutor's Office|prosecutor] in other legislations), City Attorney provides legal services to the Mayor, Board of Supervisors, and the rest of the city and county administration, examines surety bonds, contracts and ordinances and represents the city and county administration in civil claims, formally as a representative of People of the State of California. |
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The City Attorney is assisted by a number of Assistant City Attorneys. |
The City Attorney is assisted by a number of Assistant City Attorneys. |
Revision as of 07:13, 22 October 2020
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Office overview | |
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Formed | 1899 |
Preceding office |
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Jurisdiction | Government of San Francisco |
Headquarters | San Francisco, California 37°46′45″N 122°25′09″W / 37.77919°N 122.41914°W |
Office executive |
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Website | City Attorney website |
The City Attorney of San Francisco is an elected position in the City and County of San Francisco, California. While city-county consolidation resulted in the unified government attaining both a city attorney and a district attorney, the two positions are separate and serve different purposes.
Whereas District Attorney office is, as is the case throughout the United States, charged with prosecuting crime (i.e. has the equivalent function of a [Prosecutor's Office|prosecutor] in other legislations), City Attorney provides legal services to the Mayor, Board of Supervisors, and the rest of the city and county administration, examines surety bonds, contracts and ordinances and represents the city and county administration in civil claims, formally as a representative of People of the State of California.
The City Attorney is assisted by a number of Assistant City Attorneys.
History
The present City Attorney position was created in 1899, when the former offices of the City Attorney and County Attorney were unified; Franklin Knight Lane was the first City Attorney elected under this regime.
The first woman to hold the position was Louise Renne in 1986, appointed by then-mayor Dianne Feinstein following the death of previous City Attorney George Agnost.
List of City Attorneys
- Dennis Herrera (2002–present)
- Louise Renne (1986–2001)
- Philip Ward (1986–1986)
- George Agnost (1977–1986)
- Thomas Martin O'Connor (1961–1977)
- Dion R. Holm (1949–1961)
- John J. O'Toole (1926–1949)
- George Lull (1916–1926)
- Percy V. Long (1908–1916)
- William J. Burke (1906–1908)
- Percy V. Long (1902–1906)
- Franklin Knight Lane (1899–1902)
City Attorneys before 1899
- Harry T. Creswell (1893–1898)
- Frederick Palmer Tracy