LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 3Pt. 2Ch. 6Art. 4§ 12550 Attorney General Oversight Powers

§ 12550 Attorney General Oversight Powers

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 12550 Attorney General Oversight Powers

Key Takeaways

  • •The Attorney General is the boss of all the district attorneys in the state.
  • •The Attorney General can ask district attorneys for reports about their work.
  • •If needed, the Attorney General can help or even take over a case from a district attorney.
  • •The Attorney General can do everything a district attorney can do, like making people come to court.

Example

A big crime happens in a small town, and the local district attorney is overwhelmed.

The Attorney General can step in to help or even take over the case to make sure it's handled properly.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 12550 Attorney General Oversight Powers

The Attorney General has direct supervision over the district attorneys of the several counties of the state and may require of them written reports as to the condition of public business entrusted to their charge. When the Attorney General deems it advisable or necessary in the public interest, or when directed to do so by the Governor, the Attorney General shall assist any district attorney in the discharge of the district attorney’s duties, and may, if deemed necessary, take full charge of any investigation or prosecution of violations of law of which the superior court has jurisdiction. In this respect the Attorney General has all the powers of a district attorney, including the power to issue or cause to be issued subpoenas or other process. (Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 50, Sec. 103. (AB 378) Effective January 1, 2022.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

Attorney Generaldistrict attorneyssupervisionsubpoenas

Related Statutes

  • § 12522 Attorney General Biennial Report
  • § 12524 Attorney General Law Enforcement Conference
  • § 12553 Special Prosecution Counsel Fees
  • § 12560 Attorney General Sheriff Oversight
  • § 12500 Attorney General Salary Inclusion

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 12550.
View Official Source