{{Short description|American lawyer}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Mark Shurtleff | image = Mark Shurtleff.jpg | caption = | order = 19th | office = Attorney General of Utah | governor = Mike Leavitt<br />Olene Walker<br />Jon Huntsman<br />Gary Herbert | term_start = January 2001 | term_end = January 2013 | predecessor = Jan Graham | successor = John Swallow | office1 = Member of the Salt Lake County Commission | term_start1 = January 1999 | term_end1 = January 2001 | predecessor1 = | successor1 = | birth_name = Mark Leonard Shurtleff<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.martindale.com/attorney/mr-mark-leonard-shurtleff-259583/|title=Mark L Shurtleff Profile | Salt Lake City, UT Lawyer | Martindale.com|website=www.martindale.com|accessdate=May 13, 2023}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|08|09}} | birth_place = Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | children = 5 | education = Brigham Young University (BS)<br />University of Utah (JD) | party = Republican | branch = United States Navy | service_years = 1985-1990 | rank = Commander | unit = J.A.G. Corps | footnotes = }} '''Mark Leonard Shurtleff''' (born August 9, 1957) is an American attorney, former three-term Utah Attorney General, and founder of the Shurtleff Law Firm and the Shurtleff Group. He was a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of the law firm Troutman Sanders<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.troutmansanders.com/|title=Troutman Sanders LLP|website=www.TroutmanSanders.com|access-date=October 29, 2017}}</ref> and served as a Salt Lake County Commissioner prior to being elected as Attorney General of the state of Utah.
==Education and early career== Shurtleff attended Brighton High School (Cottonwood Heights, Utah),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Doug |date=2006-12-24 |title=Mark Shurtleff: Attorney general tackles Utah's toughest issues |url=https://www.deseret.com/2006/12/23/19990245/mark-shurtleff-attorney-general-tackles-utah-s-toughest-issues/ |access-date=2025-07-30 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref> Brigham Young University, University of Utah College of Law, and University of San Diego School of Law. Shurtleff served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Peru.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/viewpoints/articles/0604lds0604.html|title=LDS faithful wrestle with illegal immigration|website=www.AzCentral.com|access-date=October 29, 2017}}</ref> He served four years in the United States Navy as a Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG).<ref name="public service">{{cite news| author=Lisa Riley Roche | title=Shurtleff enjoys public service | url=https://www.deseret.com/2004/10/18/19853598/shurtleff-enjoys-public-service |work=Deseret Morning News |date=October 18, 2004}}</ref>
==Career== Shurtleff was the Deputy County Attorney and a Commissioner of Salt Lake County and later became an Assistant Attorney General for the state of Utah.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} Shurtleff was elected Attorney General in November 2000, and re-elected in 2004 and 2008. He is the first Attorney General in Utah to win re-election for a third term.<ref>{{cite news| author=Ben Winslow| title=Shurtleff seeks re-election |url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660204733,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713051830/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660204733,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |work=Deseret Morning News |date=March 20, 2008}}</ref>
As Attorney General, Shurtleff issued an official legal opinion stating that under a second law (HB174), private school vouchers would still be funded even if voters rejected the primary voucher bill (HB 148) in a November referendum.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Lisa Riley Roche |author2=Erin Stewart| title=2 voucher laws at risk? Shurtleff says only one affected by referendum |url=https://www.deseret.com/2007/3/28/20009718/2-voucher-laws-at-risk-shurtleff-says-only-one-affected-by-referendum/|work=Deseret Morning News |date=March 28, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author1=Tiffany Erickson |author2=Bob Bernick Jr| title=Justices Rule Voucher Amendment cannot stand on its own |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/660228140/Justices-rule-voucher-amendment-cannot-stand-on-its-own.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110324072858/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/660228140/Justices-rule-voucher-amendment-cannot-stand-on-its-own.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 24, 2011|work=Deseret Morning News}}</ref>
In May 2007, Shurtleff testified before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee as a Republican in support of the Constitutionality of granting full representation in Congress for residents of Washington DC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/shurtleff_testimony_05_23_07.pdf|title=Testimony of Mark Shurtleff|date=May 23, 2007 |website=judiciary.senate.gov|access-date=13 May 2023}}</ref> That year Shurtleff co-founded the Utah Meth Cops Project and raised money to provide detoxification treatment to police officers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.deseretnews.com/article/695225781/Police-detox-at-clinic-for-exposure-to-meth.html?pg=all|title=Police detox at clinic for exposure to meth|first=Ben|last=Winslow|date=November 8, 2007|website=DeseretNews.com|access-date=October 29, 2017}}{{dead link|date=November 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | pmc = 3573677 | pmid=22089658 | doi=10.1177/0748233711425070 | volume=28 | title=Methamphetamine exposure and chronic illness in police officers: significant improvement with sauna-based detoxification therapy | year=2012 | journal=Toxicol Ind Health | pages=758–68 | last1 = Ross | first1 = GH | last2 = Sternquist | first2 = MC| issue=8 }}</ref>
On May 12, 2009, Shurtleff disclosed, via a Twitter message, that he planned to enter the 2010 Republican primary.<ref name="Aaron Blake">{{cite news |work=The Hill |title=Whoops: Utah official accidentally tweets Senate bid |author=Aaron Blake |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/17158-whoops-utah-official-accidentally-tweets-senate-bid/ |date=May 13, 2009}}</ref> On November 4, 2009, Shurtleff ended his campaign for U.S. Senate in order to spend more time with his daughter, who was experiencing health problems.<ref name="The Daily Herald">{{cite web | title=Shurtleff pulls out of Senate race against Bennett | url=http://heraldextra.com/news/local/article_932fa08e-c95f-11de-9947-001cc4c002e0.html | publisher=The Daily Herald | year=2009 | access-date=November 4, 2009}}</ref> That year, he co-founded the Utah Pharmaceutical Drug Crime Project, an unprecedented multi-agency, multi-disciplinary task force to combat the serious problem of prescription drug abuse. Partners included the DEA, FBI, Utah Departments of Public Safety and Human Services, and the Salt Lake City Police Department.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705297676/Task-force-takes-aim-at-prescription-drug-abuse.html?pg=all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924105835/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705297676/Task-force-takes-aim-at-prescription-drug-abuse.html?pg=all|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2015|title=Task force takes aim at prescription-drug abuse|first=Sara|last=Israelsen-Hartley|date=April 16, 2009|website=DeseretNews.com|access-date=October 29, 2017}}</ref>
In September 2010, Shurtleff testified before the House Judiciary Committee in support of the Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness Act,<ref name="HR5034hear">[http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/hear_100929.html Hearing on: H.R. 5034, the "Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness (CARE) Act of 2010"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007103252/http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/hear_100929.html |date=October 7, 2010 }} from the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, which includes a [http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/pdf/Shurtleff100929.pdf transcript of Shurtleff's prepared remarks] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007132435/http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/pdf/Shurtleff100929.pdf |date=October 7, 2010 }}</ref> an act that seeks to reverse the effects of Granholm v. Heald, a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court case that ruled unconstitutional state laws that permitted in-state wineries to ship wine directly to consumers, but prohibited out-of-state wineries from doing the same. Shurtleff's remarks<ref name="HR5034hear"/> were drafted by the general counsel of the National Beer Wholesalers Association.<ref>[http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50381759-76/shurtleff-testimony-states-utah.html.csp Shurtleff: Beer group drafted my testimony], a September 30, 2010 article from ''The Salt Lake Tribune''</ref><ref>[https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/09/30/utah-ag-testimony-testament-to-lobbying-ties/ Utah AG Testimony: Testament to Lobbying Ties?], a September 30, 2010 Washington Wire blog post from ''The Wall Street Journal''</ref>
In April 2013, Shurtleff testified before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee in support of comprehensive immigration reform during the Hearing on the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act, S.744.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aila.org/content/fileviewer.aspx?docid=44075&linkid=260748|title=Testimony of Former Utah Attorney General Mark L. Shurtleff|date=April 22, 2013|website=aila.org|access-date=13 May 2023}}</ref>
In February 2013, Shurtleff spoke on Capitol Hill in Washington DC on "The Role of State Attorneys General in Enforcing Federal Law" to Congressional staffers at the Civil Justice Caucus Academy run by George Mason University School of Law<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/60202240|title=The Role of State Attorneys General in Enforcing Federal Law – Mark Shurtleff (3 of 5)|first=Civil Justice Caucus|last=Academy|date=February 21, 2013|publisher=|access-date=October 29, 2017|via=Vimeo}}</ref>
In July 2015, Mark Shurtleff, with his brother Kevin Shurtleff, started a business called MicromistNOW.<ref name="MicromistNOW">{{cite web | url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865632680/Ex-AG-Mark-Shurtleff-starts-business-selling-nicotine-mist.html?pg=all | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717121050/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865632680/Ex-AG-Mark-Shurtleff-starts-business-selling-nicotine-mist.html?pg=all | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 17, 2015 | title=Ex-A.G. Mark Shurtleff starts business selling nicotine mist | publisher=Desert News | date=July 15, 2015 | access-date=August 8, 2016 |author1=Lockhart, Ben |author2=Nelson, Paul}}</ref> The company's first product is the QuickNic Nicotine Inhaler.<ref name="MicromistNOW"/> While attorney general Shurtleff made multiple public statements critical of the tobacco industry.<ref name="MicromistNOW"/>
==Election history== {{Election box begin | title=Utah Attorney General Election, 2000}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = Mark Shurtleff |votes = 435,988 |percentage = 57 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Reed Richards |votes = 299,683 |percentage = 40 |change = }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Utah Attorney General Election, 2004 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = Mark Shurtleff |votes = 614,742 |percentage = 68.4 |change = +11.4 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Gregory Skordas |votes = 255,779 |percentage = 28.4 |change = }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin | title=Utah Attorney General Election, 2008 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = Mark Shurtleff |votes = 650,147 |percentage = 69.3 |change = +0.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Jean Welch |votes = 249,492 |percentage = 26.6 |change = }} {{Election box end}}
==Personal life== Shurtleff is divorced with five children and eight grandchildren. He is an Eagle Scout and is fluent in Spanish.{{failed verification|date=August 2019}}<ref name="public service"/> Shurtleff was honored by the Boys and Girls Clubs with their 2012 Living Legacy Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.midvalejournal.com/pages/full_story/9423/Boys-and-Girls-Club-Gala-set-for-Feb.-11/|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140827053924/http://www.midvalejournal.com/pages/full_story/9423/Boys-and-Girls-Club-Gala-set-for-Feb.-11/|url-status=dead|title=Boys and Girls Club Gala set for Feb. 11 – Midvale Journal|date=August 27, 2014|archivedate=August 27, 2014|website=MidvaleJournal.com|access-date=October 29, 2017}}</ref> Shurtleff was divorced on November 6, 2019<ref>Shurtleff married Melinda (Clegg) Worley on January 23, 2020.</ref>
==Allegations of criminal misconduct== In 2008 several articles from local news sources accused Shurtleff of corruption and bribery regarding his prosecutorial decisions.<ref>{{cite news| author=Eric Peterson| title=Drug Deal |url=http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/article-5996-feature-drug-deal-siegfried-jensen-attorneys-landed-a-huge-drug-case-contract-from-utahrss-attorney-general-did-their-hiring-of-mark-shurtleffrss-daughter-seal-the-deal.html |work=Salt Lake City Weekly |date=September 24, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| author=Lee Davidson| title=Marc Sessions Jenson fraud trial postponed pending plea deal |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700229455,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528080802/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700229455,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 28, 2008 |work=Deseret News |date=May 27, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author1=Lee Davidson |author2=Bob Bernick Jr.| title=Allegations swirling in fraud case |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700228708/Allegations-swirling-in-fraud-case.html?pg=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814053236/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700228708/Allegations-swirling-in-fraud-case.html?pg=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 14, 2010 |work=Deseret News |date=May 24, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| author=Robert Gehrke| title=Secret recording Mark Shurtleff offers 2 million to silence critic |url=http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/56356205-90/shurtleff-mcbride-robbins-jenson.html.csp|work=Salt Lake Tribune |date=May 23, 2013}}</ref> These allegations were investigated by the FBI but the United States Department of Justice took no action.<ref>{{cite news | first = Dennis | last = Romboy | title = No federal charges coming against John Swallow, Mark Shurtleff | date = September 12, 2013 | url = http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865586253/Mark-Shurtleff-says-federal-investigation-clears-him-John-Swallow.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130914214534/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865586253/Mark-Shurtleff-says-federal-investigation-clears-him-John-Swallow.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 14, 2013 | work = Deseret News | access-date = September 12, 2013}}</ref>
In 2014 Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill filed 10 felony charges against Shurtleff.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ksl.com/?sid=30720646&nid=148&title=swallow-shurtleff-taken-into-custody&fm=home_page&s_cid=topstor |title=Swallow, Shurtleff taken into custody |work=KSL |first1=Natalie |last1=Crofts |date=July 15, 2014 |access-date=July 15, 2014}}</ref> Davis County District Attorney Troy Rawlings took over the Shurtleff prosecution when Shurtleff's criminal case was severed from the case of former Attorney General John Swallow.
In July 2016 the state criminal charges against Shurtleff were dismissed on a motion by the state.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== {{commons category-inline}} *[http://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/ Official site of Utah Attorney General] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20041022130003/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,595095493,00.html Biography] from the Deseret News *[http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=26698 Information Sheet] {{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} from Project Vote Smart *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160505132158/https://www.shurtlefflawfirm.com/attorneys.html MARK SHURTLEFF BIOGRAPHY] *{{LinkedIn page|in/agshurtleff|Mark L. Shurtleff}}
{{s-start}} {{s-legal}} {{succession box | title=Attorney General of Utah | before=Jan Graham | after=John Swallow| years= 2001–2013 }} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shurtleff, Mark}} Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:S.J. Quinney College of Law alumni Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah Category:Brigham Young University alumni Category:Utah attorneys general Category:Utah lawyers Category:Utah Republicans Category:University of San Diego School of Law alumni Category:United States Navy officers Category:2008 United States presidential electors Category:American Mormon missionaries in Peru Category:20th-century Mormon missionaries