When asked about balancing consumer protection with pro-industry incentives, Attorney General Stephen Cox emphasized equal administration of justice and strict adherence to the laws in the books.
Stephen Cox was appointed by Governor Dunleavy to fill the vacancy left by Candidate for Governor Treg Taylor. He had his confirmation hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 1, 2026. The Legislature was originally scheduled to vote on Cox’s confirmation today, May 7, but the vote has been rescheduled to an undetermined date, likely next week.
The Senate Judiciary Committee includes Senate President Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak), Senator Cathy Tilton (R-Wasilla), Senator Loki Tobin (D-Anchorage), Senator Jesse Keihl (D-Juneau), and Senator Matt Claman (D-Anchorage).
In his introduction, Cox identified consumer protection as one of his top three priorities as Attorney General. Senator Tilton inquired, “What is the balance of the consumer protection laws with also keeping our state open for business, and what are your thoughts on that?”
Cox’s response focused on equal administration of justice, refusal to mix in politics, and taking a strict “by the book” approach.
Attorney General Cox’s full answer:
Through the chair, Senator, it’s a good question. I think we do have some of the best and the strongest consumer protection laws, and that goes to the breadth of the consumer protection laws. It also goes to the size of the penalties.
I think what you are asking is the quintessential question of prosecutorial discretion. And what you want to do, in order to invite business and to make sure that business is attracted to a state like Alaska, is even administration of justice. And that means that the laws that apply to Party A will also be applied to party B and party C, and party D, based on the same facts. You don’t want to have any kind of politics involved in that. You want to have even handed administration of justice.
This something I care deeply about. This something that I have a lot of experience with, especially from my background in the federal side at the Department of Justice. But that means you have to talk about these things with the team. You have to have good guidelines for the prosecution and the civil enforcement lawyers, and you have to play things by the book. Always seeking to do justice. And that means whether you are deciding to take on a case, whether you are deciding to not take on a case or decline to investigate or decline to prosecute, it meets all of it.
