Attorney General for Missouri: What Most People Get Wrong

When you hear people talking about the attorney general for Missouri, they usually frame it as a stepping stone to the U.S. Senate. Honestly, looking at the track record of guys like Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, it’s easy to see why. But the day-to-day reality of this office is way more than just a political launching pad. It's basically the state's largest law firm, and the person sitting in that chair has a terrifying amount of power over your wallet, your privacy, and how the law actually hits the ground in the Show-Me State.

Right now, as we move through January 2026, the office is in a fascinating spot. We’ve got Catherine Hanaway at the helm, who took over in September 2025. She didn’t get there through a typical election—Governor Mike Kehoe appointed her after Andrew Bailey left to take a big-time job as Co-Deputy Director of the FBI. Hanaway is actually making history as the first woman to ever hold the post in Missouri.

The Power of the "People's Lawyer"

Most folks think the attorney general for Missouri spends all day in a courtroom fighting high-profile constitutional battles. While that happens, a huge chunk of the job is much more "boots on the ground." Think of it as the state's chief legal officer.

If a state agency gets sued, Hanaway’s team defends them. If a big corporation tries to rip off Missourians with deceptive pricing, the Consumer Protection Division jumps in. In 2025 alone, the office handled over 66,000 consumer complaints. They actually clawed back more than $14 million in restitution for regular people who got scammed. That’s not "political posturing"—that’s real money back in people's pockets.

The office is split into several "strike teams," basically:

• Agriculture and Environment: They handle everything from water rights on the Missouri River to suing polluters.
• Consumer Protection: This is where you go if a contractor disappears with your deposit or a "free trial" starts charging your card $90 a month.
• Criminal Appeals: After a local prosecutor gets a conviction in a felony case, the AG’s office handles the appeal to make sure that conviction sticks.
• Medicaid Fraud: They hunt down providers who are overbilling the system.

Why the AG Office Is Always in the News

Let’s be real: the Missouri AG's office has become a bit of a national lightning rod lately. Under Andrew Bailey, and now continuing with Hanaway, the office has been incredibly aggressive about suing the federal government.

You’ve probably seen the headlines about the "SAVE" student loan scheme or the lawsuits against the Biden-Harris administration over free speech and social media censorship. Missouri often leads these "multi-state" lawsuits. Some people love it, seeing the attorney general for Missouri as a shield against federal overreach. Others argue it’s a waste of taxpayer money on partisan lawsuits that should be handled in D.C., not Jefferson City.

There’s also been significant controversy regarding the office's stance on overturned convictions. For example, the case of Sandra Hemme—who served 43 years before her conviction was overturned—saw the AG’s office fighting her release until a judge literally threatened to hold the AG in contempt. It's a complicated, often messy balance between seeking "finality" in the legal system and ensuring actual justice.

Recent Wins and Ongoing Battles

• Data Breaches: The office recently secured a $49.5 million settlement with Blackbaud over a massive data breach.
• Opioid Crisis: They’ve been part of huge settlements with companies like Indivior (the Suboxone maker) to bring money back for addiction treatment.
• Big Tech: There are active investigations into Google and Meta regarding how they handle firearm-related content and youth mental health.

Dealing With the "No-Call" List and Scams

If you’re a Missourian, you probably know the AG best for the "No-Call" list. If you're getting blown up by robocalls, this is the office that’s supposed to have your back. They actually shut down a massive Texas-based robocall operation not too long ago.

But it's not a magic wand. Scammers are smart. They use "spoofing" to make it look like they're calling from your local area code. The AG’s office can only do so much if the scammer is sitting in a basement halfway across the world. Still, they encourage everyone to report these calls because it helps them build "patterns of practice" cases against the carriers that allow this junk on their networks.

How to Actually Get Help

Honestly, the office is surprisingly accessible if you know where to look. You don't need a lawyer to file a complaint.

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1. Online: You can go to ago.mo.gov and fill out a digital form.
2. Phone: Their consumer protection hotline is 800-392-8222.
3. Mail: You can actually print out a physical form and mail it to their office in Jefferson City at P.O. Box 899.

If you’ve been defrauded, keep your receipts. Seriously. The AG can't act as your personal lawyer in a private lawsuit, but if they see 500 people all complaining about the same car dealership, they can file a massive civil suit that forces the business to pay everyone back.

Real Talk on the Future

With Hanaway now in the seat, the focus seems to be shifting slightly back toward traditional prosecution and legislative experience while keeping the "culture war" lawsuits on the front burner. She’s a former U.S. Attorney and was the Speaker of the Missouri House, so she knows how to navigate the bureaucracy in Jefferson City better than almost anyone.

The budget for the 2026 fiscal year includes more funding for things like the Violent Crimes Task Force and child exploitation training. It’s a massive operation with over 50 state executive, legislative, and judicial clients. Basically, if the state does something legal, this office is involved.

Actionable Next Steps

• Check the No-Call List: If you haven't updated your registration lately, do it. It doesn't stop everyone, but it gives the state leverage to sue the ones it catches.
• Monitor the Sunshine Law: If you feel a local government body (like a school board or city council) is hiding records, you can file a "Sunshine Complaint" directly with the AG's office.
• Report Medicaid Fraud: If you see a doctor or clinic billing for services they didn't provide, use the specific Medicaid Fraud hotline (800-286-3932). These tips often lead to the biggest settlements.
• Stay Informed on Consumer Alerts: Follow the office's press releases. They often put out alerts about specific scams targeting seniors or homeowners in Missouri following natural disasters like tornadoes.

The attorney general for Missouri is one of the few offices where a single person's philosophy can change the lives of six million people almost overnight. Whether it's through a massive settlement with a tech giant or a quiet intervention in a local consumer dispute, the reach of the office is huge. Understanding how to use their resources is basically a "cheat code" for navigating legal trouble in Missouri.