Case Details

Issues

Common Law Powers

Filing State

WI

Court

Wisconsin Supreme Court

Year

1974

Citation

In re Estate of Sharp, 217 N.W. 2d 258 (Wis. 1974),

Resolution

Wisconsin attorney general does not have common law powers

Case Description

in Wisconsin, Article VI, §3, of the state constitution provides that the powers and duties of the attorney general “shall be prescribed by law,” which has been construed by the state supreme court in a long line of cases to confer only those powers and duties granted by statute, thus specifically denying the existence of common law powers.