What is an attorney general's written opinion regarding the application of law considered?

An attorney general's written opinion regarding the application of law is considered secondary authority. This designation arises because such opinions do not create law or have the same binding effect as statutes, regulations, or case law, which are classified as primary authority. Instead, attorney general opinions provide guidance on how laws may be interpreted or applied, serving as a resource or reference for legal practitioners, judges, and public officials.

This guidance can help clarify legal statutes, especially in cases where the law may be ambiguous or subject to differing interpretations. While these opinions can be influential, they do not carry the weight of law in the same way that judicial decisions or legislative enactments do. Therefore, they are valuable for their interpretative insights but are classified as secondary authority in legal research and practice.

The other options do not adequately describe the nature of an attorney general's opinion. Advisory opinions typically refer to legal advice provided in response to specific questions and usually do not have the same public authority as those issued by the attorney general. Legal commentary might involve analyses or critiques written by legal scholars or practitioners but does not encompass the official opinions issued by the attorney general.