who is the us district attorney

by Alisa Heller 8 min read

Who appoints district attorneys?

94 rows · Apr 14, 2022 · District United States Attorney; Alabama, Middle: Sandra Stewart Alabama, Northern: Prim F. Escalona: Alabama, Southern: Sean Costello Alaska: John E. Kuhn, Jr Arizona: Gary M. Restaino * Arkansas, Eastern: Jonathan D. Ross: Arkansas, Western: Clay Fowlkes: California, Central: Tracy Wilkison: California, Eastern: Phillip Talbert California, …

Are district attorneys elected or appointed?

Dec 20, 2021 · Matthew M. Graves. Matthew Graves was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 28, 2021, and sworn in on November 5, 2021, as the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. Mr. Graves first joined the United States Attorney’s Office in 2007 as a line Assistant United States Attorney, serving with distinction in both the Superior Court and …

Who is the current US Attorney?

U.S. Attorneys. Charged with ensuring “that the laws be faithfully executed,” the 93 United States Attorneys work to enforce federal laws throughout the country. The President appoints a United States Attorney to each of the 94 federal districts (Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands are separate districts but share a United States Attorney). The United States Attorney is the chief …

What is the job of the US Attorney?

Dec 14, 2021 · United States Attorney District of Arizona Gary M. Restaino was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on October 27, 2021 and confirmed by …

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How many US district attorneys are there?

There are currently 93 United States Attorneys: one for each of the 94 federal judicial districts, except for Guam and the Northern Marianas, where a single U.S. Attorney serves both districts.

What is a US district attorney?

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.

Who is the current US Attorney for DC?

Matthew M. Graves
United States Attorney for the District of Columbia
Incumbent Matthew M. Graves since November 5, 2021
United States Department of Justice
Reports toThe Attorney General
AppointerThe President with Senate advice and consent

What are the duties of a US Federal District Attorney?

§ 547, the role of the United States Attorney is to: (1) prosecute criminal cases brought by the federal government; (2) prosecute or defend civil cases where the United States is a party; and (3) collect debts owed to the federal government when administrative agencies are unable to do so.

Who is above the district attorney?

In practice, district attorneys, who prosecute the bulk of criminal cases in the United States, answer to no one. The state attorney general is the highest law enforcement officer in state government and often has the power to review complaints about unethical and illegal conduct on the part of district attorneys.

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.

Does DC have an Attorney General?

Incumbent. Karl Racine

The Attorney General for the District of Columbia is the chief legal officer of the District of Columbia.

Does DC have a District attorney?

The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is unique among U.S. Attorney's Offices in the size and scope of its work. It serves as both the local and the federal prosecutor for the nation's capital.

What is the difference between the US Attorneys office and the DOJ?

The Department of Justice – or “DOJ” – is the agency responsible for enforcing the federal law of the United States. The Attorney General of the United States – appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate – heads the DOJ with its more than 100,000 attorneys, special agents, and other staff.

Who appoints the US attorney general?

The President
The President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, an Attorney General of the United States. The Attorney General is the head of the Department of Justice. (Added Pub. L.

Are US District Attorneys elected?

Depending upon the state's law, DAs may be appointed by the chief executive of the jurisdiction or elected by local voters. Most criminal matters in the United States are handled in state judicial systems, but a comparable office for the United States Federal government is the United States Attorney.

What is meant by Main Justice?

Main Justice: The Men and Women Who Enforce the Nation's Criminal Laws and Guard Its Liberties | Office of Justice Programs. Official websites use .gov.

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 an 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, ...

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 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.

Is the salary of an ADA lower than the salary of an elected DA?

The salary of an ADA will be lower than the elected DA. The non-monetary benefits of the job induce many to work as an ADA; these include the opportunity to amass trial experience, perform a public service, and network professionally.

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).

When was the Office of the Attorney General created?

History and statutory authority. The Office of the United States Attorney was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789 , along with the office of Attorney General and the United States Marshals Service. The same act also specified the structure of the Supreme Court of the United States and established inferior courts making up ...

What is the role of the Department of Justice?

Operational support, Coordination with other components of the United States Department of Justice and other federal agencies. These responsibilities include certain legal, budgetary, administrative, and personnel services, as well as legal education.

What is the role of administrative management?

Administrative management direction and oversight, Operational support, Coordination with other components of the United States Department of Justice and other federal agencies. These responsibilities include certain legal, budgetary, administrative, and personnel services, as well as legal education.

What is an AUSA?

An Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA), or federal prosecutor, is a public official who represents the federal government on behalf of the U.S. Attorney (USA) in criminal prosecutions, and in certain civil cases as either the plaintiff or the defendant.

What is a district attorney?

A district attorney typically works for a county or state government and acts as the prosecutor in criminal cases. Each state maintains a justice department responsible for criminal prosecutions. Cities, towns and counties also maintain justice departments responsible for prosecuting crimes against local and state ordinances.

Requirements for a district attorney

Here are the requirements that aspiring district attorneys need to fulfill before finding work in the field:

Top skills for district attorney

Here are the top skills that a district attorney typically needs to succeed:

Work environment for district attorneys

While much of a district attorney's job can take place in a legal office, they can also work in other locations like libraries and courtrooms.

Salary and job outlook for district attorneys

The national average salary for attorneys in the United States, including district attorneys, is currently $94,578 per year, which is a very competitive salary. However, the compensation that a district attorney receives can vary depending on their education level, experience and skills obtained throughout their career.

Alabama

District attorneys in Alabama are assigned by circuit. There are 41 circuits in the state.

Alaska

District attorneys in Alaska are based on the locations of district courts. Some districts share district attorneys, however. Alaskan district attorneys are appointed by the Attorney General .

Arizona

Each county in Arizona has its own prosecutor, called a county attorney.

Arkansas

District attorneys are assigned to Arkansas's 23 judicial circuits. Arkansas's prosecutors are known as Prosecuting Attorneys. Their elections are non-partisan.

California

Each county in California has its own prosecutor, known as a district attorney. Their elections are non-partisan.

Colorado

District attorneys are assigned to each of Colorado's 22 judicial districts .

Connecticut

Prosecutors in Connecticut are known as state's attorneys. Each judicial district is assigned its own state's attorney. They are appointed by a state commission.

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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.