The Office of Civil and Environmental Law represents Kentucky state agencies and officials who are parties in civil or administrative actions. KRS 15.020 provides for the Attorney General to represent the Commonwealth and its officers and agencies in all litigation and legal business of a non-criminal nature. Pursuant to this authority, civil litigation attorneys in the Office of the Attorney General represent state entities and officials in various types of cases before state and federal courts as well as administrative tribunals such as the State Personnel Board and the Board of Claims. The Office can also intervene to defend Kentucky’s statutes in cases where they are claimed to be unconstitutional.
KRS 15.255 authorizes the Attorney General to bring legal action to prevent or remedy damage to the environment and to counsel state agencies and commissions in environmental matters. In the event of potential or imminent threat to the natural resources of Kentucky, KRS 15.260 authorizes the Attorney General to call upon any other state agency for whatever help deemed necessary to investigate and prosecute cases involving environmental damage. Furthermore, according to KRS 15.240 the Attorney General has authority to intervene in or initiate actions involving surface mining or those under Kentucky's environmental statutes.