Formal written interpretations of state law. Persuasive authority for open government, local authority, and procurement questions.
Attorney General opinions are formal written interpretations of state law issued by a state's top legal officer. They are not binding on courts, but they carry significant persuasive authority — especially on questions of open government, local government authority, and state contracting. Courts, agencies, and local officials routinely rely on them when no appellate decision is on point.
Every state has its own process for requesting, issuing, and publishing AG opinions. Some states (Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky) publish thousands of opinions going back decades and make them fully searchable. Others publish sporadically or limit who can request them. The practical value of an AG opinion depends heavily on the state — both the volume of opinions issued and how closely other state actors follow them.
Writ & Wire maintains a full-text searchable archive of state AG opinions. Coverage is expanding — select a state below to browse or search. Additional states will be added as their opinions are ingested.