Cal. Codes » Government Code / TITLE 2. GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA / DIVISION 3. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT / PART 2. CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS / CHAPTER 6. Attorney General / ARTICLE 4. Supervision of District Attorneys
California Codes

Cal. Government Code § 12550 (2026)

Supervision of District Attorneys

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The Attorney General has direct supervision over the district attorneys of the several counties of the state and may require of them written reports as to the condition of public business entrusted to their charge.

When the Attorney General deems it advisable or necessary in the public interest, or when directed to do so by the Governor, the Attorney General shall assist any district attorney in the discharge of the district attorney’s duties, and may, if deemed necessary, take full charge of any investigation or prosecution of violations of law of which the superior court has jurisdiction. In this respect the Attorney General has all the powers of a district attorney, including the power to issue or cause to be issued subpoenas or other process.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 28 cases, 1972–2020 · leading case: Pitts v. Cnty. of Kern, 949 P.2d 920 (Cal. 1998).
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Pitts v. Cnty. of Kern, 949 P.2d 920 (Cal. 1998). · cites it 8× “V, § 13; Gov. Code, § 12550; Pen. Code, § 923; see McMillian v.”
Thomas Goldstein v. City of Long Beach, 715 F.3d 750 (9th Cir. 2013). · cites it 6× “art V, § 13; see Cal. Gov. Code § 12550 . The Attorney General may also “call into conference the district attorneys” “for the purpose of discussing the duties of their respective offices.”
Kilgore v. Younger, 640 P.2d 753 (Cal. 1982). · cites it 4× “V, § 13; Gov. Code, §§ 12550, 12560.) These supervisory duties include the training and education of district attorneys and police personnel in the proper exercise of their duties and the limits of their authority.”
People v. Cook, 583 P.2d 130 (Cal. 1978). · cites it 2× “V, § 13; Gov. Code, § 12550), I am confident justice would be done.”
People Ex Rel. Younger v. Superior Court, 86 Cal. App. 3d 180 (Cal. Ct. App. 1978). · cites it 3× “Neither section 12550 nor section 12553 of the Government Code authorizes a trial court to direct the Attorney General to assume the conduct of a criminal prosecution when a disability prevents the district attorney from permanent participation in the case.”
People v. Zapien, 846 P.2d 704 (Cal. 1993). “V, § 13; Gov. Code, § 12550.) Defendant does not explain what purpose would have been served had the district attorney’s office continued its own investigation.”
People v. Guillen, 227 Cal. App. 4th 934 (Cal. Ct. App. 2014). “V, *962 § 13; Gov. Code, §§ 12550, 12560.) They also alleged OCDA improperly failed to prosecute the deputies involved in the assault or OCSD employees who obstructed the investigation.”
People v. VIRAY, 36 Cal. Rptr. 3d 693 (Cal. Ct. App. 2005). “V, § 13 [empowering Attorney General to assume functions of district attorney “[wjhenever in the opinion of the Attorney General any law of the State is not being adequately enforced in any county”]; Gov. Code, § 12550 [to similar effect]). Prior authorities seemed to recognize,…”
People v. Superior Court (Greer), 561 P.2d 1164 (Cal. 1977). “V, § 13; Gov. Code, §§ 12550, 12553.) But “when the jurisdiction of a court has been properly invoked by the filing of a criminal charge, the disposition of that charge becomes a judicial responsibility.”
Thomas Brewster v. Shasta Cnty., a Pub. Entity Brad McDannold an Individual D. Compomizzo, an Individual, 275 F.3d 803 (9th Cir. 2001). “Similarly, the Weiner court found the limitation in section 25303 to support the conclusion that district attorneys act for the state when deciding to prosecute crime only by reading section 25303 in conjunction with California Government Code section 12550, which, like Article…”
People v. Eubanks, 927 P.2d 310 (Cal. 1996). “V, § 13; Gov. Code, § 12550), therefore, the district attorney of each county independently exercises all the executive branch’s discretionary powers in the initiation and conduct of criminal proceedings.”
People v. Dehle, 166 Cal. App. 4th 1380 (Cal. Ct. App. 2008). “V, § 13; Gov. Code, § 12550), therefore, the district attorney of each county independently exercises all the executive branch’s discretionary powers in the initiation and conduct of criminal proceedings.”
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