Attorney Ohio Attorney General 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which division of the Ohio Attorney General's Office handles consumer protection complaints filed by Ohio residents?
- Bureau of Criminal Investigation
- Consumer Protection Section (Correct answer)
- Civil Rights Division
- Collections Enforcement Section
Correct answer: Consumer Protection Section
The Consumer Protection Section investigates and resolves consumer complaints against businesses operating in Ohio.
Question 2: Under Ohio law, what is the primary role of the Attorney General in relation to charitable organizations?
- Granting tax-exempt status to charities
- Regulating and overseeing charitable solicitations and trusts (Correct answer)
- Appointing directors to charitable boards
- Setting charitable contribution limits
Correct answer: Regulating and overseeing charitable solicitations and trusts
The Ohio AG oversees charitable organizations through the Charitable Law Section, ensuring proper use of charitable assets and registration of soliciting charities.
Question 3: When the Ohio Attorney General issues a Civil Investigative Demand (CID), what is its purpose?
- To arrest a suspect in a criminal investigation
- To compel production of documents or testimony in a civil investigation (Correct answer)
- To impose an immediate fine on a business
- To revoke a professional license
Correct answer: To compel production of documents or testimony in a civil investigation
A CID is a pre-litigation investigative tool that compels entities to produce documents, answer interrogatories, or give oral testimony in civil investigations.
Question 4: The Ohio Attorney General's BCI (Bureau of Criminal Investigation) primarily serves which function?
- Prosecuting all felony cases statewide
- Providing forensic laboratory services and criminal intelligence to local law enforcement (Correct answer)
- Supervising county prosecutors
- Managing the state prison system
Correct answer: Providing forensic laboratory services and criminal intelligence to local law enforcement
BCI provides forensic laboratory services, criminal intelligence, and investigative assistance to local and state law enforcement agencies across Ohio.
Question 5: If the Ohio Attorney General believes a business practice violates the Consumer Sales Practices Act, what is the FIRST enforcement step typically taken?
- Filing criminal charges immediately
- Seeking a cease-and-desist order or consent decree (Correct answer)
- Revoking the business's state charter
- Reporting the business to the IRS
Correct answer: Seeking a cease-and-desist order or consent decree
The AG typically begins with civil enforcement actions such as consent decrees or cease-and-desist orders before escalating to other remedies.
Question 6: Which statement correctly describes the Ohio Attorney General's authority over local government legal matters?
- The AG serves as the mandatory legal counsel for all Ohio counties
- The AG may provide legal advice and opinions to county prosecutors and local officials upon request (Correct answer)
- The AG must approve all county ordinances before they take effect
- The AG has no authority to interact with local government legal matters
Correct answer: The AG may provide legal advice and opinions to county prosecutors and local officials upon request
The AG issues formal opinions and advisory assistance to local officials but does not serve as mandatory counsel for county governments.
Question 7: What happens when Ohio Attorney General opinions conflict with a later court ruling on the same legal question?
- The AG opinion always supersedes the court ruling
- The court ruling controls, as AG opinions are advisory and not binding law (Correct answer)
- The Ohio Supreme Court must reconcile the conflict through legislation
- Both carry equal legal weight and agencies may choose which to follow
Correct answer: The court ruling controls, as AG opinions are advisory and not binding law
Attorney General opinions are persuasive but advisory, meaning a binding court decision on the same issue takes precedence.
Attorney Ohio Attorney General 2
Which division of the Ohio Attorney General's Office handles consumer protection complaints filed by Ohio residents?