About & Contact

Stephen J. Cox, Alaska Attorney General

Stephen J. Cox serves as Attorney General of Alaska, where he oversees the state’s legal affairs and serves as the chief prosecutor with oversight of all district attorneys, general counsel to the Governor and executive branch, and represents the State in all civil and criminal cases in federal and state court. He brings to the role a proven record of public service at the highest levels of the U.S. Department of Justice, combined with deep experience in Alaska’s private sector and community life.

Before his appointment, he was Senior Vice President, Chief Legal and Strategy Officer of Bristol Bay Industrial—an investment platform of the Bristol Bay Native Corporation—acting as the chief legal officer for the industrial services portfolio on behalf of the Alaska Native shareholders in the Bristol Bay region. In that role, he led legal, compliance, and strategic planning for major energy, infrastructure, and utility projects across the State and in the Lower 48.

Earlier in his career, beginning in 2011, Cox served as in-house counsel for Apache Corporation, where he was the principal attorney for Apache Alaska and focused on new ventures and exploratory work in Cook Inlet, including seismic initiatives and ongoing regulatory coordination with state agencies.

Cox is deeply rooted in Anchorage’s community and faith life. He and his family attend Holy Family Old Cathedral in downtown Anchorage and support Mission Alaska, the Dominican friars’ outreach ministry under the Western Dominican Province. He was the founding board president and chairman of a new classical school in South Anchorage

On the national stage, Cox held senior leadership roles in the U.S. Department of Justice under the Trump Administration. As Deputy Associate Attorney General, he co-chaired the DOJ’s Regulatory Reform Task Force and the Working Group on Corporate Enforcement and Accountability, and helped implement landmark policies aimed at curbing regulatory overreach and aligning enforcement with fairness and oversight. Later, as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, he oversaw prosecutions and civil litigation spanning 43 counties, prioritizing healthcare fraud, elder fraud, and violent crime while ensuring enforcement remained transparent and fair.

Earlier in his career, Cox practiced complex litigation at a major international law firm, served as counselor to the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and helped lead the William H. Webster Commission, which reviewed FBI counterterrorism intelligence and operations following the Fort Hood tragedy.

He began his legal career with a clerkship for Judge J. L. Edmondson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Cox earned a B.S. in Computer Science from Texas A&M University and a J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center. He and his wife, Cristina, are raising their three children in Anchorage, and have made Alaska their home.

About the Department

The Department of Law is part of the executive branch of Alaska state government. The attorney general is the principal executive officer of the department, and is appointed by the governor of Alaska. The attorney general serves as the legal advisor for the governor and other state officers, prosecutes all violations of state criminal law, and enforces the consumer protection and unfair trade practices laws. The duties and powers of the attorney general are found in AS 44.23.020.

The Attorney General's Office supports the attorney general as legal advisor to the governor and chief administrator of the three divisions of the Department of Law.

• Names and dates of service of those who have served as Attorney General

Contact information for the Attorney General and the Department of Law can be found below. If you have a specific question, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page first to see if your question may have already been answered.

About Seeking Legal Advice

Please note that the Attorney General's Office and Department of Law staff cannot provide legal advice to private citizens or organizations, but only to agencies and employees of the state.

Please contact an attorney if you need legal advice. The Alaska Lawyer Referral Service or your local bar association may be able to assist you in locating a lawyer.

Pro bono legal services include many types of legal services performed without or at a substantially reduced rate of compensation. Rule 6.1 of the Alaska Rules of Professional Conduct states that "[e]very lawyer has a professional responsibility to provide legal services to those unable to pay." Consistent with this rule, the attorney general urges attorneys to give back to the community by providing pro bono legal services. Although providing legal representation or advice to private individuals or entities is outside the scope of the duties of the Department of Law, the department strongly encourages pro bono legal work.

If you need pro bono legal services, visit the Alaska Bar Association's list of pro bono legal service providers.

Media Contacts

Civil Division Offices & Sections

Criminal Division Offices

Administrative Services

State ADA Coordinator

David Newman
Alaska Department of Administration
550 W 7th Avenue, Suite 1960
Anchorage, AK 99501

Phone (voice): (907) 375-7716
Phone (TTY): 711 for Alaska Relay
Fax: (907) 465-1218
email: david.newman@alaska.gov