Doug Peterson (Nebraska politician)

Doug Peterson is an American attorney and politician from Nebraska. He served as the 32nd Attorney General of Nebraska, holding office from 2015 to 2023.

Peterson was born in Holdrege, Nebraska. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. Prior to becoming Attorney General, Peterson worked in private practice, focusing on business and commercial litigation.

Peterson was appointed Attorney General by Governor Dave Heineman in December 2014, following the resignation of Jon Bruning. He was subsequently elected to a full term in 2014 and re-elected in 2018.

As Attorney General, Peterson was responsible for representing the state in legal matters, providing legal advice to state agencies, and enforcing state laws. He focused on issues such as consumer protection, public safety, and protecting the interests of Nebraska's farmers and ranchers. He was involved in multi-state lawsuits concerning various issues, including environmental regulations and opioid litigation.

During his tenure, Peterson advocated for conservative legal principles and often joined other Republican attorneys general in challenging federal policies implemented by the Obama and Biden administrations. He also worked to combat human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

Peterson did not seek re-election in 2022, and Mike Hilgers succeeded him as Attorney General in January 2023.