The Montana Attorney General is the state’s chief legal officer, chief law enforcement officer, and head of the Montana Department of Justice. The current officeholder is Austin Knudsen, sworn in for a second term on January 6, 2025. The job reaches further than courtroom work: it covers supervision of county prosecutors, the Highway Patrol, the state crime lab, driver licensing, and consumer protection for Montana residents.
What the Office Does
Montana Code Annotated 2-15-501 lays out the core duties. The Attorney General prosecutes and defends every case before the Montana Supreme Court in which the state or a state officer is a party, and represents the state in bankruptcy and debt collection matters when an agency asks for help.1Montana State Legislature. Montana Code 2-15-501 – General Duties
The office also supervises every county attorney in Montana. That authority goes beyond advice. The Attorney General can order a county attorney to file a criminal or civil action, and when the governor directs it or the public interest demands it, the office can step in to assist or take a case over entirely.1Montana State Legislature. Montana Code 2-15-501 – General Duties
Formal Legal Opinions
The Attorney General issues written legal opinions, free of charge, to the legislature, state officers, boards, commissions, county attorneys, city attorneys, and county commissioners on questions of law tied to their duties. Opinions are due within three months of the request unless the question is complex enough to justify more time.1Montana State Legislature. Montana Code 2-15-501 – General Duties
These opinions carry unusual weight. If an Attorney General opinion conflicts with a reading from a city attorney, county attorney, or any attorney employed by a state agency, the Attorney General’s opinion controls unless a state district court or the Montana Supreme Court overrules it.2Montana State Legislature. AG Opinions – Attorney General’s Office State and local agencies treat them as binding until a court says otherwise.
Law Enforcement Divisions
Several public safety divisions sit under the Attorney General. The three with the broadest reach are the Division of Criminal Investigation, the Montana Highway Patrol, and the Forensic Science Division.
Division of Criminal Investigation
The Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) backs up local law enforcement on cases that outstrip local resources. Its investigators work homicides, fraud, organized crime, dangerous drug activity, arson, computer crime, and public corruption.3Montana State Legislature. Department of Justice DCI also houses specialized units for workers’ compensation, public assistance, and Medicaid fraud, and runs the Montana Law Enforcement Academy.4Montana Department of Justice. Division of Criminal Investigation
Montana Highway Patrol
The Highway Patrol enforces traffic laws, investigates crashes, and conducts criminal interdiction on state highways. It runs around the clock and provides radio dispatch for its own troopers and for other state agencies.3Montana State Legislature. Department of Justice
Forensic Science Division
The state crime lab in Missoula processes firearms evidence, tool marks, hair, fibers, body fluids, and blood and urine samples, and trains law enforcement in forensic science. The division also manages Montana’s death investigation system and certifies and maintains the breath testing instruments officers use in DUI enforcement.3Montana State Legislature. Department of Justice
Consumer Protection and Victim Services
The Office of Consumer Protection investigates complaints about scams, deceptive advertising, and other unfair business practices.5Montana Department of Justice. Office of Consumer Protection You can file a complaint or search existing records through the online system at dojmt.gov.
Before you file, pull together the name of the business or individual, dates of any transactions, copies of contracts or correspondence, and records of any money paid or lost. Specific documentation helps investigators spot patterns and build cases.
The Office of Victim Services, also inside the Department of Justice, assists crime victims with advocacy, information about their rights, and referrals to support resources.6Montana Department of Justice. Office of Victim Services
Driver Licensing and REAL ID
The Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) sits inside the Department of Justice and handles driver licensing, vehicle titles, and registrations. Montana issues REAL ID-compliant licenses and ID cards but does not require residents to get one. Since May 7, 2025, a REAL ID (marked by a star in the upper-right corner), a valid passport, or a U.S. military ID is required to board domestic flights and enter certain federal facilities.7MT Motor Vehicle Division. Real ID If you only use your license to drive, you don’t need to upgrade; if you plan to fly domestically without a passport, you do.
Multistate Lawsuits
Montana regularly joins coalitions of state attorneys general in large lawsuits against national companies. Pooling resources lets states take on cases a single office couldn’t realistically pursue. In one recent example, Montana joined all 50 states and U.S. territories in suing Google over anticompetitive practices in its Android app store. The 2021 case produced a $700 million settlement, with 90 percent going to affected consumers.8Montana Department of Justice. Attorney General Knudsen Announces $700 Million Settlement From 2021 Lawsuit Against Google Past multistate actions have also targeted the opioid crisis, defective medical devices, and deceptive pharmaceutical marketing.
Who Can Hold the Office
The Attorney General is elected to a four-year term. A candidate must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a Montana resident for at least two years before the election. The candidate must also be an attorney in good standing admitted to practice in Montana, with at least five years of active practice before election day.9Montana Legislature. Montana Constitution, Article VI, Section 3 – Qualifications
Service is capped at eight years within any 16-year period, effectively two consecutive terms. A former Attorney General can run again after sitting out, as long as they still meet the eligibility requirements.10Montana State Legislature. Montana Code Annotated Section 8 – Limitation on Terms of Office
How to Contact the Office
The Department of Justice is headquartered at 215 North Sanders in Helena. The main line for the Office of the Attorney General is (406) 444-2026, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 201401, Helena, MT 59620-1401.11Montana Department of Justice. Contact Us Consumer complaints go through the online system at dojmt.gov, and the same site has direct contact information for the Highway Patrol, DCI, and the Motor Vehicle Division.12Montana Department of Justice. Attorney General’s Office