As Americans celebrate the 250th anniversary of independence, they are also celebrating the first attorneys general who helped establish the justice system. Among the first five were those who served in the Continental Army, helped ratify the U.S. Constitution, were elected to state legislatures and served in state leadership roles.

Early Attorneys General

The first U.S. attorney general was Edmund J. Randolph, appointed by the first president, George Washington. Randolph joined the Continental Army in August 1775 and served as General Washington’s aide-de-camp. A Virginia lawyer and delegate to the Continental Congress, Randolph helped draft and ratify the U.S. Constitution.

He was elected to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1776 and served on the committee that drafted the state bill of rights and constitution. He also served as Virginia’s governor, attorney general and in the Virginia House of Delegates. As Washington’s secretary of state, Randolph’s negotiations with Spain were instrumental in westward expansion.

Legacy of the First Attorneys General

In 250 years, there have been 87 U.S. attorneys general, with another nearly two dozen serving in acting capacities. They’ve been members of five political parties: Federalists, Whigs, Democratic-Republicans, Democrats, and Republicans. Only three have been women: Janet Reno, Loretta Lynch, and Pam Bondi.

U.S. attorneys general have come from 29 states, with the most from Pennsylvania, followed by New York, Maryland, Virginia, and Massachusetts. The first attorneys general played a critical role in shaping early American law and governance, advocating for states’ rights, and defending impeached judges and a former vice president accused of treason.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.