Attorney General of the Gambia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Attorney General of the Gambia
Coat of arms of the Gambia
Incumbent Dawda A. Jallow since 30 June 2020
Style	The Honourable
Member of	Gambian Cabinet
Residence	Attorney General's Chambers Marina Parade Banjul
Appointer	President of the Gambia
Inaugural holder	William Richard Townsend
Formation	1902
Deputy	Solicitor General
Website	www.moj.gov.gm

The Attorney General of the Gambia is a very important legal job in the Gambia. This person is like the main lawyer for the government. They give legal advice to the Gambian government. They also represent the government in court.

For many years, the Attorney General has also been the Minister of Justice. This means they lead the Ministry of Justice. This ministry handles all legal matters for the country. The person holding this job right now is Dawda A. Jallow.

What is the Attorney General's Role?

The Attorney General is a key member of the Gambian Cabinet. The Cabinet is a group of top government officials. They help the President make important decisions for the country.

How Does the Attorney General Help the Government?

The Attorney General's main job is to be the government's chief legal adviser. This means they tell the government what the law says. They also explain how laws should be followed. They make sure the government acts within the law.

The Attorney General also represents the government in all courts. If the government needs to go to court, the Attorney General or their team handles the case.

Who Can Be an Attorney General?

To become the Attorney General, a person must be a lawyer. They need to have worked as a lawyer in the Gambia for at least five years. This rule is set out in the Constitution of the Gambia.

What About the Director of Public Prosecutions?

The Attorney General also works closely with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP is in charge of criminal cases. However, the DPP needs the Attorney General's approval to start certain legal actions. The DPP also follows the Attorney General's guidance.

Who Helps the Attorney General?

The main helper for the Attorney General is the Solicitor General. The Solicitor General can step in for the Attorney General when needed. The Director of Public Prosecutions can also use some of the Attorney General's powers. For example, they can stop a court case if needed.

The Ministry of Justice has several departments. The Attorney General, as Minister of Justice, oversees all of these.

A Look Back: History of the Attorney General

The job of Attorney General in the Gambia has a long history. It goes back many years.

Early Beginnings of the Role

The story of this job started in 1831. Back then, it was called the King's Advocate. This person was the head of the Legal Adviser's Office.

• From 1831 to 1837, Andrew Hunter did this job. He was also the Colonial Secretary.
• After him, Thomas Lewis Ingram took over for a short time.
• In 1839, when Queen Victoria became queen, the job changed to Queen's Advocate. Richard Pine was the first to hold this title.
• Later, in 1841, John Iles Mantell became Queen's Advocate. He later became the Chief Justice.

The First Attorney General

The very first person to be called the Attorney General of the Gambia was William Richard Townsend. He was appointed in 1902.

Over time, the Legal Adviser's Office grew. It had Legal Assistants to help the Attorney General. One of the first was Donald Kingdom. He later became a Chief Justice in Nigeria.

In 1945, the office was renamed the Crown Law Office. The Attorney General remained its leader.

Growth and Independence

The office continued to expand. In 1953, there was only the Attorney General and one Legal Adviser. But by 1966, there was an Attorney General, a Solicitor General, and other legal officers. This was also the first time the Gambia had a Solicitor General.

When the Gambia became independent in 1965, a new constitution was made. This constitution said the Attorney General would be the main legal adviser. It also made the Attorney General a full government minister. The constitution also created the independent job of Director of Public Prosecutions. This person would handle criminal cases.

In 1968, the Ministry of Justice was created. The department then became known as the Attorney General's Chambers and Ministry of Justice. In 1970, the Attorney General also became a voting member of the House of Representatives.

Who Has Been Attorney General?

Here is a list of the people who have served as Attorney General of the Gambia since 1965:

See also

• Justice ministry
• Politics of the Gambia