1. A legal officer who represents the state or federal government in criminal proceedings. See DISTRICT ATTORNEY; UNITED STATES ATTORNEY ; ATTORNEY GENERAL.
— Also termed public prosecutor; state’s attorney; public commissioner.
public prosecutor.
1. PROSECUTOR(1).
2. DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
special prosecutor. A lawyer appointed to investigate and, if justified, seek indictments in a particular case. See independent counsel under COUNSEL.
2. A private person who institutes and carries on a legal action, esp. a criminal action.
— Also termed (in sense 2) private prosecutor. — prosecutorial, adj.
