About Phil Weiser
Phil Weiser is serving his second term as the 39th attorney general of the state of Colorado. Since becoming the state’s chief legal officer in 2019, Attorney General Weiser has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to serving the people of Colorado, advancing the rule of law, protecting our democracy, and promoting justice for all. Through engagement and collaborative problem solving, the Colorado Department of Law has achieved significant milestones under Weiser’s leadership.
Protecting consumers is one of Weiser’s key priorities. In 2019, he worked with the state legislature to strengthen the Colorado Consumer Protection Act to give the attorney general’s office more tools to crack down on scams, as well as unfair and deceptive business practices. High-profile investigations have resulted in more than $250 million in refunds, credits, and debt relief for Colorado consumers. Holding drug manufacturers and distributors accountable for their roles in creating and fueling the opioid crisis is a hallmark of Weiser’s work, including securing over $787 million in settlement funds for treatment, recovery, and prevention education programs across the state. Colorado was the first state recognized by the Principles Coalition led by faculty at The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for the state’s planning and collaboration with local governments in addressing the opioid crisis.
Weiser is dedicated to improving the criminal justice system and advancing public safety. Peace officer training and recruitment is a core part of Weiser’s agenda, and as the chair of the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, he has directed the first update to the state’s officer training curriculum in 30 years. During Weiser’s tenure, the department’s Criminal Justice Section has prioritized investigating and prosecuting auto and retail theft, human trafficking, and drug trafficking organized crime rings. Additionally, Weiser has spearheaded solutions to address recidivism by supporting businesses that hire people leaving prison to create opportunities and reduce crime. Weiser also has advocated fervently for victims of crime, including the first-ever enforcement of the state’s victims’ rights law, investigating child sex abuse by Catholic clergy, defending Colorado’s stalking law at the U.S. Supreme Court, and addressing the scourge of domestic violence.
Colorado’s natural beauty is core to our way of life, and Weiser’s commitment to protecting our land, air, and water has led to several actions. These actions include leading the effort to secure more than $6.6 million in settlement funds for natural resources damages in the Bonita Peak Mining District in southwestern Colorado, shoring up the state’s interests in negotiations over the future of the Colorado River, and fighting for statewide compensation for harm caused by PFAS “forever chemicals” in our water. He has also successfully fought in courts for clean car standards and the federal Methane Rule.
A stalwart defender of equality, Weiser champions reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, and the freedom to vote in state and federal courts. He argued landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including Colorado Department of State v. Baca, where the court affirmed that the states have the exclusive authority to appoint and, if necessary, remove presidential electors when they violate their pledges.
Weiser has made youth mental health a central focus in his second term. Actively leading multistate investigations into Meta and TikTok for their impact on our children’s well-being, he also sued Juul Labs, securing $31.7 million for vaping cessation, prevention, and youth mental health programs.
Before his time as attorney general, Weiser was the dean of the University of Colorado Law School. He also served as a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justices Byron R. White and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and held senior positions in the U.S. Department of Justice in the Clinton and Obama administrations. The son and grandson of Holocaust survivors, Weiser is deeply committed to the American Dream and ensuring opportunity for all Coloradans. Weiser lives in Denver with his wife, Dr. Heidi Wald, and their two children.
Authority
The Colorado Attorney General is one of four independently elected statewide offices in Colorado and was established by the State Constitution upon statehood in 1876.
The Attorney General and the Department of Law, collectively referred to as the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, represents and defends the legal interests of the people of the State of Colorado and its sovereignty. The Attorney General exercises the responsibilities given to the office by the Colorado Constitution, statutes enacted by the Colorado General Assembly, and the common law.
The Attorney General has primary authority for enforcement of consumer protection and antitrust laws, prosecution of criminal appeals and some complex white-collar crimes, the Statewide Grand Jury, training and certification of peace officers, and most natural resource and environmental matters. Additionally, the Attorney General’s Office works concurrently with Colorado’s 22 district attorneys and other local, state and federal law enforcement authorities to carry out the criminal justice responsibilities and activities of the office. The Attorney General is also the chief legal counsel and advisor to the executive branch of state government including the governor, all of the departments of state government, and to the many state agencies, boards, and commissions.