--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An attorney general's duty is to render…" description: "\"An attorney general's duty is to render her opinion and honest advice; she cannot set herself up as a judge overruling the president's decision. The pr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4b/william-barr-6563_advice_an-attorney-general-s-duty-is-to-render_3000099.jpg" --- # An attorney general's duty is to render her opinion and… ![“An attorney general's duty is to render her opinion and honest advice; she cannot set herself up as a judge overruling the president's decision. The president need not 'convince' his subordinate that his decision reflects the best view of the law.” quote by William Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4b/william-barr-6563_advice_an-attorney-general-s-duty-is-to-render_3000099.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4b/william-barr-6563_advice_an-attorney-general-s-duty-is-to-render_3000099.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4b/william-barr-6563_advice_an-attorney-general-s-duty-is-to-render_3000099.jpg) > “An attorney general's duty is to render her opinion and honest advice; she cannot set herself up as a judge overruling the president's decision. The president need not 'convince' his subordinate that his decision reflects the best view of the law.” [William Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An attorney general must advise honestly, not act as a judge over the president’s choices, preserving checks and balances. **In simple terms:** The AG should give advice, not overrule the president. Key Takeaway Maintain clear advisory role for the AG. Themes law government checks and balances ethics Mood cautious formal Type political legal When to use this quote - policy advice - executive decisions - legal counsel Key Concepts advisory duty separation of powers constitutional limits Questions to Reflect On - Should the AG ever intervene in presidential decisions? - How to balance loyalty and legal duty? A Different Perspective Political realities may blur advisory boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Attorney general](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attorney-general/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-president-1388284/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Judge Overruling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judge-overruling-4759334/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Overruling President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overruling-president-4759333/) [President Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-decision-1224760/) ## Related quotes > [I think the President's decision to withdraw the United States, to keep a campaign promise in Iraq, without leaving a stay-behind force was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrasso/i-think-the-president-s-decision-to-withdraw-the-united-states-to/) [John Barrasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrasso/) > [I think it was the right decision to disarm Saddam Hussein. 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