Legally Speaking

Organized Retail Crime

The Utah Attorney General’s office was one of the first in the nation to crack down on Organized Retail Crime. Today, we speak to James Russell, an investigator dedicated solely to ORC about our leadership to fight the brazen, costly and common crimes that take a toll on everyone.

Criminal Justice Reform with Deputy Solicitor General Part 1

We begin our series on the Criminal Justice System with a look at how policy is created—a look behind the scenes from Assistant Solicitor General Christopher Bates.  Christopher previously worked on the U.S. Senate Judiciary committee and has a first hand point of view about creating effective policy about policing and community relations.

Exposure to Forever Chemicals: A First Look Into the Emerging Issue

The Utah Attorney General’s Office is investigating the potential harm that so-called ‘forever chemicals’ pose to Utah citizens’ health. Detected in everyday places like drinking water, Teflon pans, microwave popcorn bags, water, fire-resistant clothing, carpeting, and much more, these PFOA and PFOS chemicals are everywhere. Legally Speaking consults Health and Environment Division Chief Craig Anderson for more information.

Brazen Retail Theft: Nordstrom Discloses how the Utah AGO is Making a Dent in Growing Number of Crimes

Retailers across the nation are losing hundreds of millions of dollars of merchandise every year to organized retail theft. Utah has been a leader in prosecuting these costly, brazen, and sometimes violent crimes. Nordstrom explains how the Utah AG's CASE task force is helping retailers and Utah’s economy. 

Attorney General’s Office Litigation Division

Of all the divisions in the Attorney General’s Office, Litigation is one of the most foundational. The director of our Litigation Division, Joni Jones, describes what our attorneys do and how it affects Utah. 

Managing Gray Wolves in Utah

The State of Utah would like to follow its wolf management plan but there is a delay. There are conflicting court rulings about whether gray wolves should remain on the endangered species list. The stakes to ranchers and hunters is high as the case is appealed. We speak to Assistant Attorney General Jason DeForest about what the appeal means to Utah.

Hiring and Keeping Attorneys in the AGO: The Realities our Office is Facing

The Utah Attorney General’s office is facing a challenge both hiring and retaining attorneys, the life blood of our productivity. Why is this happening? We speak to the Director of our Litigation Division who gives us first hand information about the situation.

NW Band of the Shoshone Nation v. Idaho with Lance Sorenson

Utah argued in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that the Northwestern Band of Shoshone Nation be allowed to hunt and fish on their ancestral territory. Assistant Solicitor General Lance Sorenson explains why the case is in court, what it means to the NW Band of the Shoshone Nation and describes the historical background of this case.