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Simple English definitions for legal terms
United States Attorney
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A quick definition of United States Attorney:
United States Attorneys are lawyers who represent the government in court. They work in 94 different areas called districts. They help the government in criminal cases and also in civil cases. They are supervised by the U.S. Attorney General and the Executive Office of United States Attorneys, but they have some freedom to make their own decisions. They can ask for help from the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. The President chooses United States Attorneys, and they work for four years. If there is no United States Attorney, the Attorney General can choose someone to work for up to 120 days.
A more thorough explanation:
United States Attorneys are lawyers who represent the federal government in district and appellate courts. They work in 94 districts across the country and are responsible for prosecuting criminal cases and representing the government in civil cases.
For example, if someone is accused of committing a federal crime like drug trafficking or fraud, the United States Attorney would be the one to prosecute the case in court. They would also defend the government in civil cases, such as when someone sues a federal agency for violating their rights.
United States Attorneys are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for four-year terms. They work under the supervision of the U.S. Attorney General and the Executive Office of United States Attorneys, but they have a lot of independence in how they handle cases.
They can also work with federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI to investigate and build cases against people who have broken federal laws.
United Nations System | United States Attorney’s Office (USAO)