When representing the governor, lieutenant governor, auditor, or treasurer, or when representing an agency under the supervision of any of those officers, the attorney general shall:
(a)
keep the officer or the officer's designee reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information;
(b)
explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to enable the officer or the officer's designee to make informed decisions regarding the representation;
(c)
abide by the officer's or designee's decisions concerning the objectives of the representation and consult with the officer or designee as to the means by which they are to be pursued; and
(d)
jointly by agreement, establish protocols with the officer to facilitate communications and working relationships with the officer or agencies under the officer's supervision.
(2)
Nothing in Subsection (1) modifies or supercedes any independent legal authority granted specifically by statute to the attorney general.
(3)
When the attorney general institutes or maintains a civil enforcement action on behalf of the state of Utah that is not covered under Subsection (1), the attorney general shall:
(a)
fully advise the governor, as the officer in whom the executive authority of the state is vested, before instituting the action, entering into a settlement or consent decree, or taking an appeal; and
(b)
keep the governor reasonably informed about the status of the matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information.
(4)
In a civil action not covered under Subsection (1) or (3), the attorney general shall:
(a)
keep the governor reasonably informed about the status of the matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information;
(b)
explain the matter to the extent reasonably necessary to enable the governor to make informed decisions regarding the representation; and
(c)
abide by the governor's decisions concerning the objectives of the representation and consult with the governor as to the means by which they are to be pursued.
(5)
The governor may appear in any civil legal action involving the state and appoint legal counsel to advise or appear on behalf of the governor. The court shall allow the governor's appearance.
(6)
(a)
As used in this section, "cooperative state litigation" means:
(i)
an anticipated or pending settlement that may require approval by the Legislature or the Legislative Management Committee in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 10, State Settlement Agreements Act; or
(ii)
anticipated or pending litigation in which:
(A)
a party challenges the constitutionality of a state law; or
(B)
the state challenges a federal law or regulation.
(b)
When the Office of the Attorney General discusses or shares with persons within the legislative branch documents or information related to cooperative state litigation, the sharing is in furtherance of matters of common interest between the represented parties.
Section 67-5-17 ("Attorney-client relationship.") is part of the Utah Code, the codified statutory law of Utah. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Utah § 67-5-17?
A common citation format is "Utah Code § 67-5-17" (Utah). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Utah law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Utah official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Utah attorney.
How does Utah § 67-5-17 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Utah can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
