Dictionary of Law
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District Attorney (D.A.) :: legal definition


District Attorney (D.A.) - n. an elected official of a county or a designated district with the responsibility for prosecuting crimes. The duties include managing the prosecutor's office, investigating alleged crimes in cooperation with law enforcement, and filing criminal charges or bringing evidence before the Grand Jury that may lead to an indictment for a crime. In some states a District Attorney is officially entitled County Attorney or State's Attorney. U.S. Attorneys are also called Federal District Attorneys and are prosecutors for districts (there are several in larger states) within the Department of Justice, are appointed by the President and serve at his/her pleasure.


Related Law Terms

acknowledgment :: n. the section at the end of a document where a no ... me leases and various other papers.
administrator :: n. the person appointed by the court to handle the ... e also: administer executor probate
attorney :: n. 1) an agent or someone authorized to act for an ... ialize. See also: court reciprocity
Attorney General :: n. in each state and the federal government the hi ... izenry. See also: Solicitor General
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
bar examination :: n. the examination given in each state by either t ... n that district. See also: attorney
clerk :: n. 1) an official or employee who handles the busi ... stocking shelves, or counter sales.
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
contingent fee :: n. a fee to a lawyer which will be due and payable ... epend on the outcome are unethical.
court :: n. 1) the judge, as in "The court rules in favor o ... cost and wait of full court trials.
disbar :: v. to remove an attorney from the list of practici ... legal ethics. (See moral turpitude
eminent domain :: n. the power of a governmental entity (federal, st ... ngs. See also: condemn condemnation
felony :: n. 1) a crime sufficiently serious to be punishabl ... ion. See also: misdemeanor sentence
Grand Jury :: n. a jury in each county or federal court district ... arge indictment preliminary hearing
home rule :: n. the power of a local city or county to set up i ... state funds for local improvements.
indictment :: n. a charge of a felony (serious crime) voted by a ... ictable offense preliminary hearing
joint powers agreement :: n. a contract between a city, a county and/or a sp ... istrict or other government entity.
jurisdiction :: n. the authority given by law to a court to try ca ... Superior Court Supreme Court venue
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
living will :: n. also called "a durable power of attorney," it i ... upport. See also: power of attorney
nolle prosequi :: (no-lay pro-say-kwee) n. Latin for "we shall no lo ... nocent and declared nolle prosequi.
prosecute :: v. 1) in criminal law, to charge a person with a c ... rney General prosecution prosecutor
prosecutor :: n. generic term for the government's attorney in a ... ee also: Attorney General prosecute
public defender :: n. an elected or appointed public official (usuall ... to convicted indigents for appeals.
rape :: 1) n. the crime of sexual intercourse (with actual ... See also: date rape statutory rape
sheriff :: n. the top law enforcement officer for a county, u ... ." See also: bailiff sheriff's sale
speaking demurrer :: n. an attempt to introduce evidence during a heari ... the operation." See also: demurrer
special prosecutor :: n. an attorney from outside of the government sele ... Robert Bork finally discharged Cox.
venue :: n. 1) the proper or most convenient location for t ... ion. See also: forum non conveniens

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - D

D.A. :: n. slang for District Attorney. ... n. slang for District Attorney.
d.b.a. :: n. short for "doing business as," when a person or ... that is registered with the state.
D.U.I. :: n. short for driving under the influence of alcoho ... ing under the influence of alcohol.
D.W.I. :: n. 1) short for driving while intoxicated. 2) abbr ... for dying without issue (children).
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
dangerous :: adj. unsafe, hazardous, fraught with risk. It can ... eapon's range. See also: negligence
dangerous weapon :: n. any gun, knife, sword, crossbow, slingshot or o ... igence and possibly win a judgment.
date rape :: n. forcible sexual intercourse by a male acquainta ... physical resistance. See also: rape
day in court :: n. popular term for everyone's opportunity to brin ... rt to protest his speeding ticket."
de facto :: adj. Latin for "in fact." Often used in place of " ... ave not been met. See also: de jure
de facto corporation :: n. a company which operates as if it were a corpor ... also: de facto de jure ultra vires
de jure :: adj. Latin for "lawful," as distinguished from de ... also: de facto de jure corporation
de jure corporation :: n. a corporation in good standing under the law, a ... also: de facto corporation de jure
de minimis :: adj. (dee-minnie-miss) Latin for "of minimum impor ... deal, a $10 mistake is de minimis.
de novo :: adj. Latin for "anew," which means starting over, ... n, de novo. See also: trial de novo
deadly weapon :: n. any weapon which can kill. This includes not on ... See also: assault dangerous weapon
dealer :: n. anyone who buys goods or property for the purpo ... ins taxes by buying other property.
death penalty :: n. the sentence of execution for murder and some o ... rder and some other capital crimes.
death row :: n. nickname for that portion of a prison in which ... o: capital punishment death penalty
debenture :: n. a form of bond certificate issued by a corporat ... n shares of stock or general bonds.