Ohio Attorney General's Office history

20, 1847, Stanbery stated he had collected $3,051.07 owed to the state and won judgments for another $2,849.32.

He set up a case-tracking system and a uniform crime report format for county prosecutors and, in 1848, was granted the ability to negotiate with debtors.

In 1849, about mid-way through Stanbery’s five-year term, the General Assembly voted to change the Attorney General’s position to that of a statewide elective office, effective at the conclusion of Stanbery’s term.

The General Assembly adopted Ohio’s second Constitution in 1851.

The General Assembly bolstered the responsibilities of the Attorney General in May 1852.

His prestige as a politician also won him a spot as a delegate of the 1860 Democratic National Convention.

In 1897, he was appointed solicitor general of the United States by President McKinley and was in charge of a very large number of important cases.

Historical records indicate the office did not warrant much in the way of staff — consisting only of the Attorney General and a clerk/secretary until 1900 — and that the office moved frequently.

The Ohio General Assembly reorganized the Attorney General’s Office on March 31, 1904, to reflect the current structure, and legal counsel employed by various state agencies joined the office.

In 1905, Attorney General Wade Ellis’ office had 10 sections:

Ellis was active at Republican State Conventions and, in 1907, was appointed Chairman of the Tax Commission by the governor.

In 1910, a dozen members of the Ohio General Assembly were convicted of bribery charges after a bi-partisan legislative committee was formed to investigate corruption within various departments of state government.

In 1911, Attorney General Timothy Hogan increased the staff’s work day from six hours to seven and a half.

After the war, he was elected chairman of the National Committee on War Risk Insurance and, in 1920, was appointed to the Land Settlement and Home Aide Committee.

His service as attorney general won him the Republican nomination for governor in 1936 and he was elected for three consecutive terms.

By an amendment adopted in 1954, the term of office is now four years.

Passed by the Ohio General Assembly in 1955, the bill included some of the strictest penalties in the country at that time.

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) was brought under the office’s oversight in 1965.

In the mid 1970’s, Attorney General William Brown officially established the Cleveland Regional Office in the Leader Building.

When the Lausche State Office Building was opened in 1979 at the corners of West Superior and Prospect Avenue, the Cleveland Regional Office was among the first tenants and began operation on the 8th floor.

The Cincinnati Regional Office was opened in February 1983 under Attorney General Anthony J. Celebrezze, Jr.

Ohio Attorney General Anthony J. Celebrezze, Jr. first opened offices in the Youngstown area in 1990.

The Cincinnati Regional Office remained in the Executive Building until January 1992, when it relocated to its current location in the Carew Tower.

In 2000, the office moved to its current home on the 11th floor of the Lausche Building, occupying the entire floor.

In September 2004, the office was relocated to its current home in One Government Center, which places employees close to local courts and to the regional offices of state agencies.

When the Youngstown Regional Office relocated to downtown Youngstown in July 2007, three Assistant Attorneys General and three support staff were added to the office.