Staff | ||
---|---|---|
Name | Title | Phone |
Rodriguez, Jr., Ricardo | Criminal District Attorney | (956) 292-7600 |
In the United States, a district attorney ( DA ), state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or state attorney is the chief prosecutor and/or chief law enforcement officer representing a U.S. state in a local government area, typically a county. The exact name and scope of the office varies by state.
The geographical jurisdiction of a district attorney may be delineated by the boundaries of a county, judicial circuit, or judicial district. Their duties generally include charging crimes through informations and/or grand jury indictments.
This term for a prosecutor originates with the traditional use of the term "district" for multi-county prosecutorial jurisdictions in several U.S. states. For example, New York appointed prosecutors to multi-county districts prior to 1813.
For example, in Arizona, Missouri, Montana, and Minnesota a county attorney represents the county and state within their county, prosecutes all felonies occurring within the county, and prosecutes misdemeanors occurring within unincorporated areas of the county.
State's attorney or state attorney is used in Connecticut, Florida (state attorney), Illinois, Maryland, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Vermont. In Maryland, the roles of Assistant and Deputy are reversed from those used in "District Attorney" jurisdictions, with Deputy State's Attorney being the primary subordinate to the elected State's Attorney and Assistant State's Attorneys (ASA) being the line-level prosecutors of the office.
In carrying out their duties, prosecutors have the authority to investigate persons, grant immunity to witnesses and accused criminals, and plea bargain with defendants. A district attorney leads a staff of prosecutors, who are most commonly known as deputy district attorneys (DDAs).
In the United States, a district attorney ( DA ), state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or state attorney is the chief prosecutor and/or chief law enforcement officer representing a U.S. state in a local government area, typically a county. The exact name and scope of the office varies by state.
Prosecuting attorneys in Idaho are assigned by county.
Oklahoma assigns its district attorneys by district .
Nebraska prosecutors are known as county attorneys. Though each attorney technically serves a single county, attorneys elected in one county are sometimes appointed to serve in others
North Dakota assigns state's attorneys by county. Their elections are non-partisan, while two counties (Golden Valley and Steele) appoint their prosecutors.
Montana prosecutors are known as county attorneys. 54 out of 56 counties elect their prosecutors, with 2/3 holding partisan elections.
Indiana's prosecutors, known as prosecuting attorneys, are elected to the state's 91 judicial districts. Each district, with one exception, covers a single county.
Each county in Arizona has its own prosecutor, called a county attorney.
1 of 29 Newly sworn in Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo waves at the audience during the Harris County Swearing-In Ceremony and Celebration at the NRG Center on Tuesday, Jan. 1 , 2019, in Houston. Marie D. De Jesús/Staff photographer Show More Show Less
20, 2018 in Houston. She was sworn in just after midnight on Jan. 1, 2019 as Harris County judge
25 of 29 Newly elected and sworn in Harris County judge Lina Hidalgo, center, lowers her head along with other Harris County officials as a prayer takes place at the beginning of the Harris County Swearing-In Ceremony and Celebration at the NRG Center on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in Houston. Marie D. De Jesús/Staff photographer Show More Show Less
Ushering in a new era of Democratic rule, Lina Hidalgo took the oath of office as Harris County judge early Tuesday, becoming the first Latina and the first woman to lead the nation's third-largest county.
26 of 29 Newly elected Harris County judge Lina Hidalgo, right, and newly elected U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, left, shake hands as Hidalgo enters the stage along with other newly sworn in Harris County officials during the Harris County Swearing-In Ceremony and Celebration at the NRG Center on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in Houston. Marie D. De Jesús/Staff photographer Show More Show Less
George, the first Asian-American to serve as Fort Bend County judge, said he plans to make government more transparent and create more opportunities for young people in the fast-growing and rapidly diversifying county.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he looked forward to working with closely with Hidalgo, especially on flood control.