Attorney-General

a legal officer of high rank. In England the term is applied to an officer of the crown. The attorney-general of the United States is the fourth member of the president's cabinet. He has general supervision over the attorneys and marshals of all the districts in the United States and territories. A similar officer in each state of the Union has general charge of the legal business of the state. In case an officer of the government is in doubt, the attorney-general's interpretation of a law is binding until the courts have ruled otherwise. A treasurer, uncertain, for instance, whether the law directs him to pay out certain moneys, may do so with full authority if advised by the attorney-general that such is, in his judgment, the proper interpretation to be placed upon the legislative act in question. A similar officer is called the county attorney.