Florida's Democrat Attorney General has ignored his own legal advice and policies regarding Legal Opinions. The following is from the FL A.G.'s website, FAQ's on Legal Opinions. From Section IV, "WHEN OPINIONS WILL NOT BE ISSUED," the 3rd paragraph specifically references the Division of Elections in the Department of State: "In addition, when an opinion request is received on a question falling within statutory jurisdiction of some other state agency, the request will either be transferred to that agency or the requesting party will be advised to contact the other agency. For example, questions concerning the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees are answered by the Florida Commission on Ethics; questions arising under the Florida Election Code should be directed to the Division of Elections in the Department of State."
Entire FL A.G. FAQ's on Legal Opinions follows:
Frequently Asked Questions About Attorney General Opinions
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I. General Nature and Purpose of Opinions
Issuing legal opinions to governmental agencies has long been a function of the Office of the Attorney General. Attorney General Opinions serve to provide legal advice on questions of statutory interpretation and can provide guidance to public bodies as an alternative to costly litigation. Opinions of the Attorney General, however, are not law. They are advisory only and are not binding in a court of law. Attorney General Opinions are intended to address only questions of law, not questions of fact, mixed questions of fact and law, or questions of executive, legislative or administrative policy.
Attorney General Opinions are not a substitute for the advice and counsel of the attorneys who represent governmental agencies and officials on a day to day basis. They should not be sought to arbitrate a political dispute between agencies or between factions within an agency or merely to buttress the opinions of an agency's own legal counsel. Nor should an opinion be sought as a weapon by only one side in a dispute between agencies.
Particularly difficult or momentous questions of law should be submitted to the courts for resolution by declaratory judgment. When deemed appropriate, this office will recommend this course of action. Similarly, there may be instances when securing a declaratory statement under the Administrative Procedure Act will be appropriate and will be recommended.
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II. Types of Opinions Issued
There are several types of opinions issued by the Attorney General's Office. All legal opinions issued by this office, whether formal or informal, are persuasive authority and not binding.
Formal numbered opinions are signed by the Attorney General and published in the Annual Report of the Attorney General. These opinions address questions of law which are of statewide concern.
This office also issues a large body of informal opinions. Generally these opinions address questions of more limited application. Informal opinions may be signed by the Attorney General or by the drafting assistant attorney general. Those signed by the Attorney General are generally issued to public officials to whom the Attorney General is required to respond. While an official or agency may request that an opinion be issued as a formal or informal, the determination of the type of opinion issued rests with this office.
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III. Persons to Whom Opinions May Be Issued
The responsibility of the Attorney General to provide legal opinions is specified in s. 16.01(3), F.S. That section requires the Attorney General to render opinions to "the Governor, a member of the Cabinet, the head of a department in the executive branch of state government, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, or the Minority Leader of the Senate . . . ."
The Attorney General may also issue opinions to "a member of the Legislature, other state officer, or officer of a county, municipality, other unit of local government, or political subdivision." In addition, the Attorney General is authorized to provide legal advice to the state attorneys and to the representatives in Congress from this state. Sections 16.08 and 16.52(1), F.S.
Questions relating to the powers and duties of a public board or commission (or other collegial public body) must be requested by a majority of the members of that body. A request from a board must, therefore, clearly indicate that the opinion is being sought by a majority of its members and not merely by a dissenting member or faction.
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IV. When Opinions Will Not Be Issued
Section 16.01(3), F.S., does not authorize the Attorney General to render opinions to private individuals or entities, whether their requests are submitted directly or through governmental officials. In addition, an opinion request must relate to the requesting officer's own official duties. An Attorney General Opinion will not, therefore, be issued when the requesting party is not among the officers specified in s. 16.01(3), F.S., or when an officer falling within s. 16.01(3), F.S., asks a question not relating to his or her own official duties.
In order not to intrude upon the constitutional prerogative of the judicial branch, opinions are not rendered on questions pending before the courts or on questions requiring a determination of the constitutionality of an existing statute or ordinance.
Opinions are not issued on questions requiring an interpretation only of local codes, ordinances or charters rather than the provisions of state law. Such requests will be referred to the attorney for the local government in question. In addition, when an opinion request is received on a question falling within statutory jurisdiction of some other state agency, the request will either be transferred to that agency or the requesting party will be advised to contact the other agency. For example, questions concerning the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees are answered by the Florida Commission on Ethics; questions arising under the Florida Election Code should be directed to the Division of Elections in the Department of State.
Other circumstances in which the Attorney General may decline to issue an opinion include:
Questions of a speculative nature;
Questions requiring factual determinations;
Questions which cannot be resolved due to an irreconcilable conflict in the laws although the Attorney General may attempt to provide general assistance;
Questions of executive, legislative or administrative policy;
Matters involving intergovernmental disputes unless all governmental agencies concerned have joined in the request;
Moot questions;
Questions involving an interpretation only of local codes, charters, ordinances or regulations; or
Where the official or agency has already acted and seeks to justify the action.
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V. Form In Which Request Should Be Submitted
Requests for opinions must be in writing and should be addressed to:
Bob Butterworth
Attorney General
Department of Legal Affairs
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050
The request should clearly and concisely state the question of law to be answered. The question should be limited to the actual matter at issue. Sufficient elaboration should be provided so that it is not necessary to infer any aspect of the question or the situation on which it is based. If the question is predicated on a particular set of facts or circumstances, these should be fully set out.
The response time for requests for Attorney General Opinions has been substantially reduced. This office attempts to respond to all requests for opinions within 30 days of their receipt in this office. However, in order to facilitate this expedited response to opinion requests, this office requires that the attorneys for public entities requesting an opinion supply this office with a memorandum of law to accompany the request. The memorandum should include the opinion of the requesting party's own legal counsel, a discussion of the legal issues involved, together with references to relevant constitutional provisions, statutes, charters, administrative rules, judicial decisions, etc.
Input from other public officials, organizations or associations representing public officials may be requested. Interested parties may also submit a memorandum of law and other written material or statements for consideration. Any such material will be attached to and made a part of the permanent file of the opinion request to which it relates.
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VI. How to Obtain Previous Opinions
Please visit our searchable database of attorney general advisory opinions.
Order form for Attorney General Reports.
Officials may wish to use the informational pamphlet prepared by this office on dual officeholding.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Opinions Section of the Attorney General's Office at 850-488-9853.
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