who does a county attorney report to

by Rodger King 7 min read

I can tell you that county attorneys general are elected officials and are therefore answerable to the citizens through the ballot box; they can also be held accountable by the state Attorney General, as well as by the Oregon State Bar through its professionalism and ethics standards (more information on this online at http://www.osbar.org/cao).

Full Answer

What does the county attorney's office do?

Jul 05, 2012 · I can tell you that county attorneys general are elected officials and are therefore answerable to the citizens through the ballot box; they can also be held accountable by the state Attorney General, as well as by the Oregon State Bar through its professionalism and ethics standards (more information on this online at http://www.osbar.org/cao ).

What is the difference between a county attorney and state attorney?

Sep 09, 2021 · In most cases, a board of lawyers and non-lawyers will review the complaint. If there’s a potential ethical violation, the board will give the lawyer a copy of the complaint and an opportunity to respond. In some states, the complaining party has a chance to comment on the lawyer's response and request an investigation.

What does the Cook County State's Attorney's Office do?

State Attorneys General. Attorneys general are the top legal officers of their state or territory. They advise and represent their legislature and state agencies and act as the “People’s Lawyer” for the citizens. Most are elected, though a few are appointed by the governor. Select your state to connect to your state attorney general's ...

What is the role of the state attorney?

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 or a group of counties. The exact name and scope of the office varies by state. Alternative titles for the …

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Who oversees district attorneys in California?

The California attorney general carries out the responsibilities of the office through the California Department of Justice. The department employs over 1,100 attorneys and 3,700 non-attorney employees.

What is the difference between a DA and a prosecutor?

Prosecutors handle court proceedings, including trials, that may follow the filing of criminal charges. The District Attorney's Office prosecutes cases in a large geographical area covering 4,084 square miles.

What does county attorney in Texas do?

A county attorney in Texas has the following duties: Represents the state in prosecuting misdemeanor criminal cases. Works with law enforcement officers in the investigation of criminal cases. Provides legal advice to the Commissioners Court and to other elected officials.

What does a county attorney do in Iowa?

Your County Attorney is the legal advisor and chief law enforcement officer for your county. The County Attorney DOES: – Prosecute all violations of state criminal laws and county ordinances.

What can a district attorney do?

A district attorney is a public official who is appointed or elected to represent the state in criminal judicial proceedings in a particular judicial district or county; an appointed or elected officer who prosecutes cases in a particular judicial district.

Is a district attorney a lawyer?

The D.A. or District Attorney is a lawyer in the U.S. who works for the state and prosecutes people on behalf of it. There are also, of course, defense attorneys in America who act on behalf of their clients.

How do I file a complaint against a Texas district attorney?

The State Bar of Texas is the agency with authority to regulate attorneys in Texas. If you have a complaint about the actions of an attorney, contact the State Bar's Grievance Committee at (800) 932-1900.

What does a district attorney do in Texas?

A district attorney in Texas has the following duties: Represents the state in prosecuting felony criminal cases. Works with law enforcement officers in the investigation of criminal cases. Presents cases to the grand jury.

What are the responsibilities of a prosecutor?

Prosecutor Responsibilities:Working with police officers and court staff.Instructing and advising counsel in court.Liaising with criminal justice and law enforcement agencies.Ensuring that criminals are punished fairly.Screening possible criminals.Handling appeals.Preparing criminal cases for pre-trial and trial.

Who is the Story County Attorney?

Story County Attorney, Timothy C. Meals | Story County, IA - Official Website.

How to file a complaint against a lawyer?

In most states, you can file your complaint by mailing in a state-issued complaint form or a letter with the lawyer's name and contact information, your contact information, a description of the problem, and copies of relevant documents. In some states, you may be able to lodge your complaint over the phone or online.

What happens if you don't report a violation of the law?

If there's no evidence of a violation, the board will dismiss the case and notify you. If the violation is minor, a phone call or letter to the lawyer usually ends the matter.

What happens if a client fires a lawyer?

When a client fires a lawyer and asks for the file, the lawyer must promptly return it. In some states, such as California, the lawyer must return the file even if attorneys’ fees haven’t been paid in full. Lawyer incompetence. Lawyers must have the knowledge and experience to competently handle any case that they take on.

What is the role of a disciplinary board in a state?

State Disciplinary Boards. Each state has a disciplinary board that enforces state ethics rules for lawyers. The board is usually an arm of the state’s supreme court and has authority to interpret ethics rules, investigate potential violations, conduct evidentiary hearings, and administer attorney discipline.

What is the role of a lawyer?

Lawyers are given a lot of responsibility and often deal with serious matters, from criminal charges to child custody to tax and other financial matters. When you hire a lawyer, you are trusting him or her to represent your interests in the best manner possible. To protect the public—and the integrity of the legal profession—each state has its own code of ethics that lawyers must follow. These are usually called the “rules of professional conduct.”

What is incompetence in a lawyer?

Lawyer incompetence. Lawyers must have the knowledge and experience to competently handle any case that they take on. They must also be sufficiently prepared to handle matters that come up in your case, from settlement negotiations to trial. Conflicts of interest.

What is a public reprimand?

issue a private reprimand (usually a letter sent to the lawyer) issue a public reprimand (usually published in the agency’s official reports and a local legal journal or newspaper ) suspend the lawyer (the lawyer cannot practice law for a specific time) disbar the lawyer (the lawyer loses his or her license to practice law), and/or.

What does a county attorney do?

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.

What does the state attorney do after a crime?

After levying criminal charges, the state's attorney will then prosecute those charged with a crime . This includes conducting discovery, plea bargaining, and trial . In some jurisdictions, the district attorney may act as chief counsel for city police, county police, state police and all state law enforcement agencies within ...

What is a prosecutor district?

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.

What is a county prosecutor in Ohio?

In Ohio a county prosecutor represents the county and state within their county, prosecutes all crimes within the county, and is legal adviser to the board of county commissioners, board of elections, and all other county officers and boards.

What is the role of a prosecutor?

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).

What is a DA?

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.

What is a district attorney?

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.

What is the Manhattan District Attorney?

The New York County District Attorney, also known as the Manhattan District Attorney, is the elected district attorney for New York County (Manhattan), New York. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws ( federal law violations in Manhattan are prosecuted by the U.S.

Who is the District Attorney in Blue Bloods?

Blue Bloods: Depicts the prosecution of criminal suspects by lawyers of the New York County District Attorney's office through the character ADA Erin Reagan. In the show, however, the office of District Attorney is a position appointed by the Governor, and not elected.

When did the Bronx become a separate county?

On January 1, 1914 , the Bronx became a separate county with its own district attorney. Until 1822, the district attorney was appointed by the Council of Appointment, and held the office "during the Council's pleasure", meaning that there was no defined term of office.

When did Westchester County become a district?

In 1818, each county in the state became its own district.

Can a district attorney delegate a petty crime?

District attorneys are legally permitted to delegate the prosecution of petty crimes or offenses. Prosecutors do not normally handle New York City Criminal Court summons court cases, and the Manhattan DA has a memorandum of understanding with the NYPD allowing the NYPD's Legal Bureau to selectively prosecute them.

What is a county prosecutor?

A county prosecutor works for his or her local government in the United States and is either elected or appointed to that position. While there are similar jobs in other countries, such as a Crown attorney in Canada and chief prosecutor in France, a county attorney is specific to the US.

Who handles felony cases in a county?

In most instances, the county prosecutor handles all felony cases in the county for which he or she works, and, in smaller counties, he or she may handle all legal cases.

What does a prosecutor do in a juvenile court?

This person will also typically handle trying a case in a court or settling the case outside of the court.

How is a prosecutor elected?

In most jurisdictions, a county prosecutor is elected by the citizens of the county. There is typically no term limit, although an incumbent prosecutor does have to win subsequent elections after his or her appointment. In some jurisdictions, this position is appointed to a lawyer by the local government, although this is less common than elections.

Does a county prosecutor provide legal counsel?

Despite this, a county prosecutor does not typically provide any type of legal counsel on personal matters, even if the individual works for the county, ...

What are the types of cases that are typically investigated and prosecuted by the State Attorney General?

The types of cases that are typically investigated and prosecuted by this office are: cases of statewide significance where the prosecutor has rejected the case or asked for assistance; cases where the prosecutor has been disqualified; and, Organized crime, racketeering and money laundering.

What is the job of the Attorney General?

The Attorney General's Criminal Division investigates and prosecutes crime throughout the State. However, criminal cases which are local in effect are rarely prosecuted by the Attorney General.

How are state attorneys elected?

In general, State's Attorneys are elected by the people they represent. Their duties are spelled out in the laws of the local governments they represent, and they're held accountable by the voters for how well they do their jobs and how well their performance matches up with the local politics of the area. But a State's Attorney hardly ever does ...

What is a Commonwealth's Attorney?

States that refer to themselves as commonwealths, such as Virginia and Kentucky, refer to them as Commonwealth's Attorneys [source: Commonwealth's Attorneys Services Council ]. State's Attorneys generally represent a defined geographic area, such as a county, judicial district or judicial circuit. These generally hold the title ...

How do police arrest a suspect?

First, police file a warrant or charging request with the State's Attorney following an investigation. Attorneys review the request and may decide to issue a warrant, which allows the police to arrest the suspect. An arraignment in court follows, at which the suspect is formally charged with a crime and enters a plea.

What is the job of a criminal prosecutor?

Criminal prosecutions are the chief duty of most State's Attorney offices. In many states, such as Michigan, criminal prosecutions follow a predetermined series of steps [source: Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan ]. First, police file a warrant or charging request with the State's Attorney following an investigation.

How many states have grand jury indictments?

About half the 50 states use grand jury indictments in criminal prosecutions. Grand juries hear cases brought by State's Attorneys, and only the evidence and witnesses presented by the State's Attorney are considered.

What is a prosecutor?

A State's Attorney is the most common term for a prosecutor, someone who represents the people in criminal and civil legal matters. But while the most iconic image of a State's Attorney is ...

What happens before a trial?

Before a trial takes place, the process of discovery takes place, at which the State's Attorney and the defense attorney share information they intend to introduce as evidence at trial.

What is the job of a state attorney?

They prosecute crimes at the state level, and represent the state in all legal matters.

What does a district attorney do?

They represent the cases against individuals and groups. A district attorney is a county prosecutor; an attorney general serves an entire state. The U.S. attorney general serves the entire country. In some states, district attorneys also represent the county in civil matters.

What does the Attorney General do in California?

In the latter role, the Attorney General prosecutes some crimes directly, handles appeals from felony convictions won by district attorneys, and handles post-ap. In California, which I think is fairly typical, the district attorney is an elected official who serves as the criminal prosecutor for a county.

What is the difference between a district attorney and an attorney general?

A district attorney is usually the chief prosecutor at the county level. An attorney general is the chief lawyer at the state level. At the federal level there is the attorney general of the United States who advises the president. Just below the U.S. attorney general are many U.S. attorneys who handle federal prosecutions.

What is the starting point for a new lawyer?

Normally the district attorney or the state attorney IS the starting point or entry level for a new lawyer. Most jurisdictions divide case loads between felony and misdemeanor. New lawyers are assigned to the misdemeanor division and work their way up. This goes for both prosecutors and public defenders.

What is the role of an attorney general?

An Attorney General is a direct legal advisor to the government. Attorney generals have the authority/responsibility for law enforcement or even responsibility for legal affairs generally. Where as an District Attorney is the chief prosecutor for a local government area, leading a team of deputy district attorneys.

What is a D.A. in law?

A D.A. works FOR the government. The specific job is filled in different ways for different locations, some places elect the D.A. (meaning all voters can directly influence) and in some places the D.A. is appointed. An attorney is anyone who qualifies for and passes the state requirements to “practice law”.

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Overview

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 countyor a group of counties. The exact name and scope of the office varies by state. Alternative titles for the office include coun…

History

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. Even after those states broke up such districts and started appointing or electing prosecutors for individual counties, they continued to use the title "district attorney" for the most senior prosecutor in a county rather than switch to "county attorney".

Role

The principal duties of the district attorney are usually mandated by law and include representing the State in all criminal trials for crimes which occurred in the district attorney's geographical jurisdiction. 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 informationsand/or grand jury indictment…

Departments

The district attorney usually divides their services into several departments that handle different areas of criminal law. Each department is staffed by several duly appointed and sworn ASAs. The departments of a large district attorney's office may include but are not limited to: felony, misdemeanor, domestic violence, traffic, juvenile, charging (or case filing), drug prosecution, forfeitures, civil affairs such as eminent domain, child advocacy, child support, victim assistance…

Nomenclature

The name of the role of local prosecutor may vary by state or jurisdiction based on whether they serve a county or a multi-county district, the responsibility to represent the state or county in addition to prosecution, or local historical customs.
District attorney and assistant district attorney are the most common titles for state prosecutors, and are used by jurisdictions within the United States including California, Delaware, Georgia, Mas…

Assistant district attorney

The assistant district attorney (assistant DA, ADA) (or state prosecutor or assistant state's attorney) is a law enforcement official who represents the state government on behalf of the district attorney in investigating and prosecuting individuals alleged to have committed a crime. In carrying out their duties to enforce state and local laws, ADA have the authority to investigate persons, is…

Appeals

Depending on state law, appeals are moved to appellate courts (also called appeals courts, courts of appeals, superior courts, or supreme courts in some states). During the appeals process district attorneys, in many cases, hands all relative prosecutorial materials to a state appellate prosecutor who in turn will represent the state in appellate courts with the advice and consent of the district attorney.

District attorney investigators

Some district attorneys maintain their own law enforcement arm whose members are sworn peace officers. Depending on the jurisdiction, they are referred to as district attorney investigators or county detectives.