The attorney general may make an investigation in any county in this state to the end that the laws of the state shall be enforced therein and all violators thereof brought to trial, when:

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 54-12-03

  • Person: means an individual, organization, government, political subdivision, or government agency or instrumentality. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • written: include "typewriting" and "typewritten" and "printing" and "printed" except in the case of signatures and when the words are used by way of contrast to typewriting and printing. See North Dakota Code 1-01-37

1.    The attorney general deems it necessary for the successful enforcement of the laws of the state in such county; 2.    Requested by a majority of the members of the board of county commissioners of the county; or

3.    Petitioned by twenty-five taxpaying citizens of the county.

The necessary expenses incurred in making the investigation or in prosecuting any resulting case, as determined by the attorney general and not otherwise specifically provided by law, must be paid by the county out of the state’s attorney’s contingent fund. All such expenses paid    from the state’s attorney’s contingent fund must be paid by the county treasurer upon the warrant of the county auditor. The warrant must be executed and delivered by the auditor in an amount and to the person designated therein upon the written order of the attorney general.