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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	March 10, 2021 03:34 PM
From:	Senator Lisa Baker
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Constitutional Amendment Requiring the Attorney General to Have an Active License to Practice Law

Please join me in cosponsoring a constitutional amendment to clarify the qualifications of the Pennsylvania Attorney General.   Article IV, Section 5 of the Pennsylvania Constitution states, “No person shall be eligible to the office of Attorney General except a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.”   My amendment would make clear that if an Attorney General is disbarred, that individual is no longer qualified for the position, and the office would be declared vacant.  Additionally, if an Attorney General’s license to practice law is suspended, he or she would likewise be suspended from the office of Attorney General, unless and until the license is reinstated.  In this instance, the First Deputy Attorney General would assume the role of Acting Attorney General.  If they are unable or unwilling to perform the duties of the Attorney General, the Director of the Criminal Law Division would execute these responsibilities. Thank you for your consideration.

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