State`s Attorney Legal Definition

“Prosecutor”. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/state%27s%20attorney. Retrieved 1 December 2022. This term for a prosecutor comes from the traditional use of the term “district” for several district attorneys in several U.S. states. For example, before 1813, New York appointed prosecutors for multi-county districts. Even after these states dissolved these districts and began appointing or electing prosecutors for individual districts, they continued to use the title “district attorney” for the most senior prosecutor in a county, rather than moving to “district attorney.” The prosecutor can be the collection agent for the local government, especially when it comes to property taxes and bankruptcy matters. The office also provides legal advice and representation to local staffing service providers with respect to child protection and welfare, child support and adult services, including civil engagement hearings, social assistance and matters relating to at-risk adults. Prosecutors are the voice of the people in American courtrooms, enforcing the law and representing the duly elected government at all levels. A prosecutor is the most common term for a prosecutor, someone who represents the people in criminal and civil matters.

But while the most iconic image of a prosecutor is the prosecutor portrayed in countless TV shows, books, and movies, prosecutors don`t just prosecute accused criminals. Prosecutors are also known as district prosecutors, prosecutors or prosecutors. In the federal system, the equivalent of a district attorney is a U.S. attorney, appointed by the president. For example, the Cook County Attorney General in Chicago has more than 900 attorneys and a total of 1,600 employees [source: Cook County District Attorney`s Office]. Deputy state prosecutors, also known as deputy state attorneys, are the ones who actually appear in court, file briefs, and question witnesses. The prosecutor, on the other hand, is responsible for the policy, staffing and operation of the office, as well as decisions on certain high-profile cases. Under state law, appeals are moved to appellate courts (also known as appellate courts, appellate courts, high courts, or supreme courts in some states). During the appeal process, in many cases, district attorneys hand over all relevant prosecutor documents to a state appellate attorney, who in turn represents the state before the appellate courts with the opinion and approval of the district attorney. District Attorney and Assistant District Attorney are the most common titles for prosecutors and are used by jurisdictions in the United States, including California, Delaware, Georgia, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Prosecutors are at the forefront of all legal actions in which the Office is involved. These are the lawyers most likely to be involved in charging a crime, questioning witnesses, reviewing evidence and precedents, and hearing cases in court. They are also most likely to be involved in convictions and appeal hearings. The prosecution is the legal party responsible for prosecuting a person suspected of breaking the law, initiating and directing other criminal investigations, directing and recommending the conviction of offenders, and is the only attorney authorized to participate in grand jury trials. Prosecutors decide which criminal complaint to file and when and where a person responds to that accusation. In the exercise of their functions, prosecutors have the power to investigate persons, grant immunity to witnesses and accused persons, and negotiate with the accused. [1] For example, in Arizona, Missouri, Montana, and Minnesota, a district attorney represents the county and state in their county, prosecutes all crimes that occur in the county, and prosecutes offenses committed in unincorporated areas of the county. In Ohio, a district attorney represents the county and state in their county, prosecutes all crimes in the county, and serves as legal counsel to the county board of commissioners, the elections board, and all other county officials and councils.

[2] On the other hand, district attorneys in Kentucky and Virginia[3] prosecute only certain offenses and sometimes traffic problems and serve as legal advisors for their counties, with the prosecution of crimes and the prosecution of crimes not dealt with by the district attorney being the responsibility of the Commonwealth Attorney for that county. The prosecutor is responsible for laying charges against persons suspected of breaking the law, initiating and directing other criminal investigations, deciding on criminal charges to be laid, ordering and recommending sanctions for violators, and is the only lawyer authorized to participate in grand jury proceedings. In the performance of his or her duties, counsel has the power to investigate persons, grant immunity to witnesses and alleged perpetrators, and negotiate with the accused. Under the current system, prosecutors can be appointed by the chief executive of the judiciary or elected by local voters. In St. Louis, Missouri, the title is Circuit Attorney,[5] while in St. Louis County, Missouri, the title is Circuit Attorney. [6] In the next section, we will learn more about what a prosecutor does and how he or she participates in the trial. A district prosecutor leads a team of prosecutors, more commonly known as deputy district prosecutors (DDAs). The deputy who serves as the supervisor of the office is often referred to as the deputy district attorney.

Most law enforcement agencies are delegated to the DDAs, with the district attorney prosecuting the most important cases and assuming overall responsibility for their agency and work. Under the existing system, DAs can be appointed by the chief executive of the court or elected by local voters. In some jurisdictions, the district attorney supervises the work of local prosecutors regarding violations of county ordinances. In other jurisdictions, the district attorney prosecutes traffic cases and/or misdemeanors. In some states, the district attorney prosecutes violations of state laws to the extent that the state allows local prosecutions against them. District prosecutors do not prosecute federal crimes that fall under the jurisdiction of a U.S. prosecutor. In Canada, the equivalent position to that of a district attorney is that of Crown Attorney, Crown Attorney or Attorney General, depending on the province, and the equivalent of an assistant district attorney is the Deputy Crown Attorney, the Deputy Crown Attorney or the Deputy Crown Attorney. Shawn Marshall Myers, 42, was sentenced Friday by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, according to an announcement by the Charles County District Attorney.

Many prosecutors also perform tasks unrelated to law enforcement. This includes defending the county against civil suits, occasionally initiating such actions on behalf of the county, preparing or reviewing contracts entered into by the county, and providing legal advice and advice to the local government. In some jurisdictions, the district attorney does not handle criminal cases at all, but only serves as legal adviser to the county. These sample phrases are automatically selected from various online information sources to reflect the current use of the word “prosecutor.” The views expressed in the examples do not represent the views of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us your feedback. Attorneys General are the principal jurists of their state or territory. They advise and represent their legislatures and state agencies and act as “defenders of the people” for citizens. Most are elected, although some are appointed by the governor.