Tim Griffin, a fifth-generation resident of Arkansas, has built a distinguished career in public service that spans law, politics, and the military. He was born on August 21, 1968, in Charlotte, North Carolina, but moved to Magnolia, Arkansas, during his childhood. Growing up as the son of a minister and a teacher, he developed values that have shaped his professional path.
Educational Background and Early Career
Griffin graduated from Magnolia High School before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, in 1990. He then pursued legal studies at Tulane Law School in New Orleans, obtaining his Juris Doctor in 1994. Furthering his education, he attended graduate school at Oxford University. Griffin began his legal career by being admitted to the Arkansas bar and later became a member of the Louisiana bar, which is currently inactive.
Military Service
In 1996, Griffin joined the U.S. Army Reserve’s Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps. His military tenure includes a mobilization in 2005 as an Army prosecutor at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and service with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Mosul, Iraq. Over his more than 28 years of service, he has held positions such as Commander of the 2d Legal Operations Detachment in New Orleans and the 134th Legal Operations Detachment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He currently holds the rank of colonel and earned a master’s degree in strategic studies as a Distinguished Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army War College.
Political Career Path to Attorney General
Griffin’s political career is marked by a series of significant roles:
- U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas (2006–2007): Appointed by President George W. Bush, Griffin served as the interim U.S. Attorney, a position that placed him at the forefront of federal legal proceedings in the state.
- U.S. House of Representatives (2011–2015): Elected as the representative for Arkansas’s 2nd Congressional District, Griffin served two terms. During the 113th Congress, he was a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means and served as a Deputy Whip for the Majority. In the 112th Congress, his committee assignments included the House Armed Services Committee, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the House Committee on Ethics, and the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas (2015–2023): Griffin was elected as the 20th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. In this role, he focused on economic development, education reform, and state government efficiency.
- Attorney General of Arkansas (2023–Present): Elected in November 2022, Griffin was sworn in as the 57th Attorney General of Arkansas on January 10, 2023. In this capacity, he serves as the state’s chief legal officer, overseeing law enforcement and consumer protection efforts.
Approach to Lowering Crime
Attorney General Griffin has demonstrated a proactive stance on combating crime, particularly organized retail crime:
- Organized Retail Crime: Recognizing the economic and safety threats posed by organized retail crime, Griffin has prioritized addressing this issue. In February 2025, he joined a bipartisan coalition of 37 attorneys general urging Congress to enact stricter penalties for such crimes. Griffin highlighted Arkansas’s leadership in this area, noting the hiring of a full-time organized retail crime investigator and collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations and neighboring states to form an Organized Retail Crime Alliance. These efforts have led to multiple arrests and disruptions of criminal networks.
Mindset on Social Justice Issues
While specific details on Griffin’s stance regarding social justice issues are limited in the available sources, his actions provide some insight:
- Support for Law Enforcement: Griffin’s initiatives to combat organized crime and protect consumers indicate a commitment to upholding law and order, which can be viewed as foundational to ensuring justice and safety for all citizens.
- Protection Against Unlawful Prosecutions: In June 2024, Griffin led a 20-state coalition supporting legislation to protect Americans from unlawful prosecutions by the International Criminal Court (ICC). He expressed concern that if the ICC could unlawfully prosecute Israelis, it might also target Americans, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding citizens’ rights against external legal overreach.
Record on Illegal Immigration
Griffin has actively addressed issues related to illegal immigration through legal actions:
- Challenge to Federal Immigration Policy: In January 2023, Griffin joined a multistate lawsuit against the Biden administration’s immigration “parole” policy, which aimed to allow up to 360,000 individuals annually from specific countries to enter the U.S. outside regular immigration channels. Griffin argued that such policies burden Arkansas taxpayers and threaten security, underscoring his commitment to enforcing existing immigration laws.
- Support for Texas Border Security Measures: In March 2024, Griffin joined 21 other states in supporting Texas’s efforts to secure the border. He highlighted that over 9 million illegal immigrants had entered the country, making every state, including Arkansas, a border state. This action reflects his stance on the broader implications of federal immigration policies on individual states.
In summary, Tim Griffin’s career reflects a dedication to public service across multiple domains.