Peach Tree Times

State attorneys general are in the best position to push back against federal overreach when U.S. Congress doesn’t resist, according to Georgia Attorney General Christopher Carr.

“The greatest threat right now to the rule of law is the fact that we have leaders who are saying, ‘Ignore the rule of law’ and what we are seeing around the country is an increase in lawlessness,” Carr said. “That’s the biggest change we've seen in the last six or seven years.”

Carr, who previously worked for the late Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), was among the attorneys general lecturing on a panel at the 2023 Republican National Lawyers Association on May 12.

“The issue of dealing with crime is a solvable problem if you have leaders who are willing to enforce the law," he told the gathering of lawyers. "It's an incredibly difficult time to be in law enforcement right now. Most of the departments in Georgia are down officers. Why? Because we are making it impossible to attract and retain good law enforcement officers.”

Other panelists included Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.

“A lot of what we see happening right now in terms of this administration's blatant disregard for courts, court orders or Congress' authority to make the law is astounding,” Moody told the audience. “It's actually scary in some respect. I think all three of us take this AG role very seriously.”

Topics ranged from federal overreach, COVID-19 response, the rule of law and immigration enforcement. The moderator was Missouri attorney Marc Ellinger, president of the Republican National Lawyers Association.

Griffin touched on the obligation he feels toward the Arkansas Legislature.

“The legislature is my client." he said. "They are going to do stuff that I'm going to end up dealing with if it's challenged. Should I just sit back and wait for it to come to me or should I lean in and help shape some of that stuff? I think the latter is the only option if you're really being of good counsel.”

All three attorneys general have joined letters reprimanding the Biden administration, as well as amicus briefs and lawsuits, that challenge alleged instances of overreach by the federal government.

“That's something we all look outside our states for and can join together and do within the state,” Griffin added. “Clearly, there's a lot of variation depending on our constitution and our state laws. But my approach has been to, first and foremost, be persuasive.”