why are some cases vs the attorney general

What is an attorneys general and what do they do?

Answer (1 of 4): The plaintiff is often "United States" because for criminal proceedings, the state is the only entity that can bring the proceeding into being. For federal crimes in the US, the "United States" is thus the plaintiff, while in state crimes, the particular state (California, Texas...

What is the difference between the state Attorney General and prosecutor?

Rating. It's a compound noun where the second word is basically an adjective that describes the preceding noun, or "head." In this case, "general" describes "attorney." Ah, the joy of head-first compound nouns. A regular compound noun - "military funeral," for instance - …

What is the difference between Attorney General and Solicitor General?

Jan 21, 2021 · The Attorney General’s Office maintains an up-to-date list of all its federal litigation cases, including case summaries, case status and lead state, on its website. That list can be found here.-30-The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal office for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state ...

How often does the Attorney General appear in court?

Apr 24, 2016 · The attorney general rarely appears in court, but makes key decisions on major cases, assists in local and federal investigations and meets with legislators and constituents on a regular basis, according to Walter Cohen, who served as first deputy attorney general over six years and then as acting attorney general for several months in 1995.

Does the attorney general argue before the Supreme Court?

"A number of Attorneys General and occasionally Deputy Attorneys General have chosen to personally argue a case before the Supreme Court.Apr 23, 2018

What power does the US attorney general have?

As the chief officer of the Department of Justice, the attorney general enforces federal laws, provides legal counsel in federal cases, interprets the laws that govern executive departments, heads federal jails and penal institutions, and examines alleged violations of federal laws.

Why do prosecutors sometimes choose not to prosecute criminal cases?

No likelihood of success. Prosecutors may decline to press charges because they think it unlikely that a conviction will result. No matter what the prosecutor's personal feelings about the case, the prosecutor needs legally admissible evidence sufficient to prove the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Can the state attorney general prosecute local cases?

Chapter 1, section 1.09, of the Penal Code provides that, “with the consent of the appropriate local county or district attorney, the Attorney General has concurrent jurisdiction with that consenting local prosecutor” to prosecute certain offenses, including: Misuse of state property or funds. Abuse of office.

What is a state attorney salary?

The salaries of States Attorneys in the US range from $12,530 to $334,332 , with a median salary of $60,262 . The middle 57% of States Attorneys makes between $60,262 and $151,583, with the top 86% making $334,332.

Who appoints the US attorney general?

the president of the United StatesThe attorney general is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States. Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution, the officeholder is nominated by the president of the United States, then appointed with the advice and consent of the United States Senate.

How can charges be dropped before court date?

How Criminal Charges Get DismissedProsecutors. After the police arrest you, the prosecutor charges you with a criminal offense. ... Judge. The judge can also dismiss the charges against you. ... Pretrial Diversion. ... Deferred Entry of Judgment. ... Suppression of Evidence. ... Legally Defective Arrest. ... Exculpatory Evidence.Jun 22, 2021

Why would the states attorney drop charges?

A prosecutor may drop a criminal charge if it is determined that the evidence against the accused isn't strong enough. Or, perhaps new evidence is found which undercuts the prosecution's case against the defendant.

Why is a prosecutor so powerful?

Prosecutors are the most powerful officials in the American criminal justice system. The decisions they make, particularly the charging and plea-bargaining decisions, control the operation of the system and often predetermine the outcome of criminal cases.

Which level of felony is the highest level of offense?

A class A felony and a level 1 felony are considered the highest class – or worst felony – and carry the most severe punishments. Criminal codes at both the state and the federal levels categorize felony crimes by seriousness, with the first class or level being the most severe.Dec 15, 2018

What does an attorney general do?

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.

What are the duties and responsibilities of the attorney general?

Attorney General Job DutiesEnforcing and representing state laws and regulations in civil and criminal cases.Managing the state's law enforcement agencies; appointing, investigating, or disciplining officers; reviewing their reports; and attending public police functions as representatives of the state.More items...•Oct 27, 2021