About NAAG
Lynch Announces "Year of the Child" as Focus of His Presidential Initiative
On behalf of the fifty-six attorneys general of the states, territories and District of Columbia across our nation, welcome to the web home of the National Association of Attorneys General – NAAG. Founded in 1907, NAAG facilitates interaction among the Attorneys General, enhances the performance of the Attorneys General and their staffs, and fosters an environment of cooperative leadership.
Since King William III founded the first Office of Attorney General in 1650 in my home state of Rhode Island, a single word has become the common thread connecting centuries of efforts on behalf of not just these states but a nation – Justice! Our guiding principle through the centuries has been that articulated by King William III, “Protect the people and do justice for them.” Every day, the Attorneys General fulfill our powers and balance our associated responsibilities with which we are entrusted by the people of our respective states or territories. Maintaining an unwavering commitment to justice every day of every year on each and every matter before us is our ongoing mission.
As the President of NAAG, it is my privilege to lead our Association in a Presidential Initiative – “The Year of the Child”. This year we will focus our collective efforts on our children and technology. We all know and have seen firsthand the tremendous power of the Internet to bring us together. But there is also a danger to that technology. The Internet can be a very dangerous place for our children. Our goal is to better educate, engage, and empower our children and their parents in the safe and wholesome use of that technology. We will continue to seek the insight, inspiration, talents, and resources of both our colleagues and our good citizens in examining issues related to our children.
Former President Jimmy Carter reminded us, “The law is not the private property of lawyers, nor is justice the exclusive province of judges and juries. In the final analysis, true justice is not a matter of courts and law books, but of a commitment in each of us to liberty and mutual respect.” The pursuit of justice is a calling. A calling to assist our fellow citizens that comes from the depth and breadth of the human spirit. With everyone’s assistance, I will establish a series of opportunities to promote, enhance, and broaden our commitment to the profound responsibilities we have to those who will set the future course of our nation and our world.
Inaugural Address
