In November 2000, Mark Shurtleff was elected to his first term as Utah's Attorney General. Mark Shurtleff, a seasoned prosecutor, public servant, and family man is now in his eighth year as Attorney General.Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has focused his service on protecting the children and families of Utah. Since stepping into the Attorney General's office, Mark has shown his dedication to Utah's families through his strong vision and effective leadership. Prior to 2000, Utah was notorious for nearly leading the country in methamphetamine labs per capita. Mark took the meth problem to the legislature, fought for better laws, and focused on tough enforcement; today, Utah is among the lowest states in the country for meth production.
Mark's energy and vision have had similarly spectacular results in the troubling area of Internet predators, and he has made it a priority to educate Utah parents and children about Internet safety. Today, Utah leads the nation in the per capita number of Internet predators caught and the number of people trained in Internet safety. Mark has also alerted Utah parents of the violence in video games, increased the prosecution of individuals involved in drug production and distribution, initiated Utah's award-winning AMBER Alert plan, and helped in the capture of dangerous criminals throughout the state. Mark also leads the mortgage fraud task force and has received national recognition for protecting consumers and homebuyers from mortgage fraud throughout the state.
In addition to his hard work in law enforcement, Mark Shurtleff has fought to protect freedom and Constitutional rights. A strong conservative, Mark understands that preserving our rights best allows Utahns to live safe and productive lives, as free as possible from government intrusions.
Attorney General Shurtleff received a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University and a law degree from the University of Utah College of Law; Shurtleff has also been educated at the Officer Indoctrination School, the Naval Justice School (he served in the United States Navy), and the University of San Diego School of Law. In the Navy, Mark worked as a Judge Advocate General (military attorney) and also worked in private practice in both Utah and California.
Prior to being elected as Utah Attorney General, Mark served as an elected Salt Lake County Commissioner, where he helped manage a budget in excess of $100 million. As Attorney General, he has received numerous awards, including the Utah PTA Friend of Children award, the Guardian of the Light Award from the anti-pornography Lighted Candle Society, the Sunshine Award from Utahns For Open Government, and other awards too numerous to mention.
Mark is the author of Am I Not a Man? The Dred Scott Story. An illiterate slave, Dred Scott trusted in an all-white, slave-owning jury to declare him free. But after briefly experiencing the glory of freedom and manhood, a new state Supreme Court ordered the cold steel of the shackles to be closed again around his wrists and ankles. Falling to his knees, Dred cried, "Ain't I a man?" Dred answered his own question by rising and taking his fight to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Dred ultimately lost his epic battle when the Chief Justice declared that a Black man was so inferior that he had "no rights a white man was bound to respect."
Dred died not knowing that his undying courage led directly to the election of President Abraham Lincoln and the emancipation proclamation.
Dred Scott's inspiring and compelling true story of adventure, courage, love, hatred, and friendship parallels the history of this nation from the long night of slavery to the narrow crack in the door that would ultimately lead to freedom and equality for all men.
Mark Shurtleff and M'Liss, his wife of 27 years, and their five children and one grandchild currently live in Sandy, Utah.