Legal Definitions - attorney general's opinion

An Attorney General's Opinion is a written legal opinion provided by the Attorney General of a state or the United States to a public official or the President, respectively, in response to a request for clarification on a legal matter.

For example, if a state governor is unsure about the legality of a proposed policy, they may request an Attorney General's Opinion from their state's Attorney General. The Attorney General would then provide a written opinion on the matter, interpreting the relevant legal provisions and providing guidance on how to proceed.

Similarly, the President of the United States may request an Attorney General's Opinion from the U.S. Attorney General on a question of law. This opinion would provide legal guidance to the President on how to proceed in a particular situation.