Former attorneys general are listed in reverse chronological order.
| Former Attorney General | Term of Service |
|---|---|
| Lisa Madigan | 2003 – 2019 |
| Jim Ryan | 1995 – 2003 |
| Roland W. Burris | 1991 – 1995 |
| Neil Hartigan | 1983 – 1991 |
| Tyrone C. Fahner | 1980 – 1983 |
| William J. Scott | 1969 – 1980 |
| William G. Clark | 1961 – 1969 |
| William L. Guild | 1960 – 1961 |
| Grenville Beardsley | 1959 – 1960 |
| Latham Castle | 1953 – 1959 |
| Ivan Elliot | 1949 – 1953 |
| George F. Barrett | 1941 – 1949 |
| John E. Cassidy | 1938 – 1941 |
| Otto Kerner | 1932 – 1938 |
| Oscar E. Carlstrom | 1925 – 1933 |
| Edward J. Brundage | 1917 – 1925 |
| Patrick J. Lucy | 1913 – 1917 |
| William H. Stead | 1905 – 1913 |
| Howland J. Hamlin | 1901 – 1905 |
| Edward C. Akin | 1987 – 1901 |
| Maurice T. Maloney | 1893 – 1897 |
| George Hunt | 1885 – 1893 |
| James A. McCartney | 1881 – 1885 |
| James K. Edsall | 1873 – 1881 |
| Washington Bushnell | 1869 – 1873 |
| Robert G. Ingersoll | 1867 – 1869 |
| Office Abolished | 1848 – 1867 |
| David B. Campbell | 1846 – 1848 |
| James A. McDougall | 1843 – 1846 |
| Josiah Lamborn | 1840 – 1843 |
| Wickliffe Kitchell | 1839 – 1840 |
| George W. Olney | 1838 – 1839 |
| Usher F. Linder | 1837 – 1838 |
| Walter B. Scates | 1836 – 1837 |
| Jesse B. Thomas, Jr. | 1835 – 1836 |
| Ninian Wirt Edwards | 1834 – 1835 |
| James Semple | 1832 – 1834 |
| George Forquer | 1829 – 1832 |
| James Turney | 1822 – 1829 |
| Samuel D. Lockwood | 1821 – 1822 |
| William Mears | 1819 – 1821 |
| Daniele Pope Cook | 1819 |