If a person is charged, it is up to the county attorney to go forward and prosecute the case. There have been instances where the county attorney, an elected official, has declined to prosecute. It doesn’t happen often, but it has happened.
If the case is big enough, it’s often the State’s AG office that does the prosecution. Sometimes the case is prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office as well or both.
But to proceed with the prosecution is always up to the prosecutor, regardless of the jurisdiction.
As a game warden you quickly learned the importance of maintaining a good relationship with your prosecutor.
If the case is big enough, it’s often the State’s AG office that does the prosecution. Sometimes the case is prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office as well or both.
But to proceed with the prosecution is always up to the prosecutor, regardless of the jurisdiction.
As a game warden you quickly learned the importance of maintaining a good relationship with your prosecutor.
