Whenever any action is brought against the state or any state agency involving the title, or right to possession or the boundaries of any lands belonging to the state or in which it has any interest, the Attorney General may, when in the Attorney General's judgment the public interest so requires, upon the Attorney General's own motion or upon the request of any state agency, appear as attorney in defense of the state or state agency.
Upon the Attorney General's own motion or upon the request of any state agency, the Attorney General may institute such an action in the name of the people of the state or on behalf of any state agency.
Ca. Gov. Code § 12518