A. The Attorney General shall give his advice and render official advisory opinions in writing only when requested in writing so to do by one of the following: the Governor; a member of the General Assembly; a judge of a court of record or a judge of a court not of record; the State Corporation Commission; an attorney for the Commonwealth; a county, city or town attorney in those localities in which such office has been created; a clerk of a court of record; a city or county sheriff; a city or county treasurer or similar officer; a commissioner of the revenue or similar officer; a chairman or secretary of an electoral board; or the head of a state department, division, bureau, institution or board.
B. Except in cases where an opinion is requested by the Governor or a member of the General Assembly, the Attorney General shall have no authority to render an official opinion unless the question dealt with is directly related to the discharge of the duties of the official requesting the opinion. Any opinion request to the Attorney General by an attorney for the Commonwealth or county, city or town attorney shall itself be in the form of an opinion embodying a precise statement of all facts together with such attorney's legal conclusions.
Code 1950, § 2-86; 1966, c. 677, § 2.1-118; 1968, c. 414; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 155; 1976, c. 715; 1999, c. 14; 2001, c. 844.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 2.2 - Administration of Government
§ 2.2-500. Attorney General to be chief executive officer; duties generally
§ 2.2-501. Assistant and deputy Attorneys General
§ 2.2-504. Contingent and traveling expenses
§ 2.2-505. Official opinions of Attorney General
§ 2.2-506. Legal services to attorneys for the Commonwealth in certain proceedings; costs
§ 2.2-507. Legal service in civil matters
§ 2.2-507.1. Authority of Attorney General regarding charitable assets
§ 2.2-507.2. Youth Internet Safety Fund established
§ 2.2-507.3. Cooperation with the Opioid Abatement Authority
§ 2.2-508. Legal service in certain redistricting proceedings
§ 2.2-509. Representation in administrative proceedings
§ 2.2-509.1. Powers of investigators; enforcement of certain tobacco laws
§ 2.2-510. Employment of special counsel generally
§ 2.2-510.1. Open negotiation for employment of special counsel
§ 2.2-510.2. Employment of outside counsel where a conflict of interests exists
§ 2.2-511.1. Public integrity; law-enforcement misconduct
§ 2.2-512. Employment of special counsel to prosecute persons illegally practicing law
§ 2.2-513. Counsel for Commonwealth in federal matters
§ 2.2-514. Compromise and settlement of disputes
§ 2.2-515. Service on board of national tobacco trust entity
§ 2.2-515.1. Statewide Facilitator for Victims of Domestic Violence
§ 2.2-517. Division of Consumer Counsel created; duties
§ 2.2-518. Division of Debt Collection
§ 2.2-519. Prompt collection of accounts receivable
§ 2.2-520. Office of Civil Rights created; duties
§ 2.2-521. Procedure for issuance of subpoena duces tecum
§ 2.2-522. Filing with the Office deemed filing with other state agencies