The New Hampshire Attorney General is a constitutional officer of the state, under New_Hampshire_Constitution#Executive_Power_---_Governor of the New Hampshire Constitution and is appointed by the Governor with approval of the Council to serve a four year term. The New Hampshire Attorney General is the head of the New Hampshire Department of Justice. The current Attorney General is Kelly A. Ayotte who has the distinction of being the first woman and youngest attorney general in state history.

The Attorney General is required by NH RSA 21-M:3 to have been admitted to the practice of law in New Hampshire, and be qualified by reason of education and experience.

The Attorney General acts as state's attorney in all criminal and civil cases in the New Hampshire Supreme Court in which the state is interested, and in the prosecution of crimes punishable by death or life in prison. The attorney general also has general supervision of all criminal cases pending before the state supreme and superior courts, and is charged with enforcing all criminal laws of the state with the aid of the county attorneys. As the department head, the Attorney General has supervisory authority over the divisions, bureaus and units within the NHDOJ.

Government of New Hampshire