AG Rutledge Reorganizes Civil Department, Names New Deputy

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by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) July 1, 2015 6:32 pm 168 views 

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced Wednesday a reorganization of the Civil Department at the Attorney General’s Office.

The State Agencies Division, which had functioned as a division within the Civil Department will now function as its own department. Meredith Blaise Rebsamen, a member of the Attorney General’s staff for nearly six years, has been named deputy attorney general for the State Agencies Department.

Attorneys in the State Agencies Department provide legal representation to the more than 200 State agencies, boards, commissions, two-year colleges and other entities. Agency attorneys provide day-to-day counseling, as well as assist their client agencies with promulgating rules and regulations, complying with the Freedom of Information Act, resolving personnel disputes and interpreting laws passed by the Arkansas General Assembly.

The Civil Department will continue to represent State agencies, officials, boards and commissions when any are named as defendants in civil lawsuits.

“Arkansans deserve to have the Office of the Attorney General function as the State’s top law firm,” said Rutledge. “Included in that responsibility is ensuring that the office is best representing and providing top-notch legal advice to Arkansas’s numerous agencies, boards, commissions, colleges and other entities to resolve problems efficiently.

“I am excited to have Meredith as the new deputy attorney general of the State Agencies Department. Meredith has demonstrated herself as one of the finest attorneys in the Attorney General’s Office, and I have no doubt that through her experience, leadership and professionalism, the people of Arkansas will be well served.”

Since taking office, Rutledge said she has reorganized the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Public Protection Department to include sworn law enforcement officers, created the Military and Veterans Affairs Initiative, launched Attorney General Mobile Offices, started a series of Rutledge Roundtables being held in all 75 counties, and plans to hire Arkansas’s first Solicitor General.