prosecutor
Charges the accused
A prosecutor is a lawyer who represents the government in criminal cases, seeking to prove that the accused committed the crime charged.
Prosecutors work for the state, federal government, or local jurisdiction—district attorneys, state's attorneys, and U.S. attorneys are all prosecutors.
The role carries significant discretion in deciding which cases to pursue: The prosecutor offered a plea deal.
Formal charge from jury
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- pleaFormal request or defense
- verdictOfficial court decision
- convictionFirmly held belief
cross-examination · testimony · evidence · witness · defendant · subpoena · deliberation · objection
Claim someone did wrong
- allegationAssertion lacking proof
- chargeCost or accusation
- complaintExpression of discontent
- felonySerious criminal offense
misdemeanor · indictment · filing · counts · information · presentment · crime · offense
Protection against harm
- defendantParty facing charges
- accusedCharged with wrongdoing
- counselExpert guidance offered
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
litigation · opposition · cross-examination · rebuttal · plea-bargain · negotiation · settlement · advocacy
Obligation for one's actions
- convictionFirmly held belief
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
law-enforcement · exoneration · ethics · integrity · misconduct · fairness
Chief government lawyer
- solicitorDocument-drafting legal professional
- procuratorAgent with authority to act
indictment
Formal charge from jury
- arraignmentCharge-reading court session
- pleaFormal request or defense
- verdictOfficial court decision
conviction · cross-examination · testimony · evidence · witness · defendant · subpoena · deliberation · objection · rebuttal
accusation
Claim someone did wrong
- allegationAssertion lacking proof
- chargeCost or accusation
- complaintExpression of discontent
felony · misdemeanor · indictment · filing · counts · information · presentment · crime · offense
defense
Protection against harm
plaintiff · litigation · opposition · cross-examination · rebuttal · plea-bargain · negotiation · settlement · advocacy
accountability
Obligation for one's actions
- convictionFirmly held belief
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
retribution · law-enforcement · exoneration · ethics · integrity · misconduct · fairness
attorney-general
Chief government lawyer
- solicitorDocument-drafting legal professional
- procuratorAgent with authority to act
- crime investigationdetective, whodunit, investigation, detectives, investigator
- justicecourtroom, trials, retributive justice, courts, gavel
- lawlaw, lawyer, lawyers, attorney, attorneys
- legallawyer, judge, jury, trial, verdict
- crime newscrime scene, court reporter, court reporting, breaking news, arrest report
- government jobscivil servant, civil servants, federal jobs, public servant, government jobs
prosecutordefense attorney
Lawyer representing the accused
defense lawyer · defense counsel · public defender · defense · advocate
- public prosecutorOfficial who brings charges
- special prosecutorsLawyers assigned to investigate officials
- federal prosecutorGovernment lawyer handling crimes
- criminal prosecutionGovernment's legal action against accused
- prosecutor's officeCriminal case filing authority
- lead prosecutorAttorney directing the prosecution
prosecute, prosecution, prosecutors, prosecutable, prosecuting, prosecutorial, unprosecuted