Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-9-6 (2026)

Legal adviser — Representation of state officers and agencies

✓ current as of July 2026
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Except as otherwise in the general laws provided, the attorney general, whenever requested, shall act as the legal adviser of the individual legislators of the general assembly, of all state boards, divisions, departments, and commissions and the officers thereof, of all commissioners appointed by the general assembly, of all the general officers of the state, and of the director of administration, in all matters pertaining to their official duties, and shall institute and prosecute, whenever necessary, all suits and proceedings that they may be authorized to commence, and shall appear for and defend the above-named individual legislators, boards, divisions, departments, commissions, commissioners, and officers, in all suits and proceedings that may be brought against them in their official capacity.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases, 1990–2020 · leading case: Mottola v. Cirello, 789 A.2d 421 (R.I. 2002).
Mottola v. Cirello, 789 A.2d 421 (R.I. 2002). · cites it 2× “Further, G.L. 1956 § 42-9-6 provides: “Except as otherwise in the general laws provided, the attorney general, whenever requested, shall act as the legal advis- or of the individual legislators of the general assembly, of all state boards, divisions, departments, and commissions…”
Gray v. Rhode Island Dep't of Child., Youth & Families, 937 F. Supp. 153 (D.R.I. 1996). · cites it 5× “See R.I.Gen.Laws § 42-9-6 (1993) and § 9-31-6 (1985).”
Common Cause Rhode Island v. RI Repub. Party, 970 F.3d 11 (1st Cir. 2020). “Notice, too, was given to the attorney general, who by law is obligated to act as legal advisor for all state agencies and officers acting in their official capacity and to defend them against suit, R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-9-6, and who advised the defendants, herein, throughout the…”
Blakeslee v. St. Sauveur, 51 F. Supp. 3d 210 (D.R.I. 2014). · cites it 2× “Perhaps not surprisingly, none of the named Defendants (including the Attorney General of Rhode Island, whose constitutional and statutory mandate is to defend acts of the General Assembly, R.”
In re Rhode Island Ambulance, 121 B.R. 423 (D.R.I. 1990). “LAWS § 42-9-6, “the Attorney General, ... shall act as the legal advisor .”
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