District Attorney

About

The Douglas County District Attorney is the chief prosecuting officer in the Douglas Judicial District (Douglas County) for the State of Georgia. She is an elected constitutional officer, who is part of the judicial branch of Georgia State Government.

The District Attorney represents the State of Georgia in the trial and appeal of criminal cases in the Superior Court. She is also the legal advisor to the Grand Jury, and performs other duties as prescribed by law.

History

The Office of District Attorney in Georgia dates to the division of the colonial office of Attorney General into the Attorney General and Solicitor General in 1789. It is the only local prosecutor’s position in the United States whose origins can be traced directly to English Common Law offices. As additional Judicial Circuits were created, additional Solicitors General positions were created in the new circuits. 

In 1968, the title "Solicitor General" was changed to "District Attorney" and the office became a full-time position whose incumbent could not engage in the practice of law outside his official duties.

Purpose

Today, the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office has Assistant District Attorneys and support staff who provide the critical role of prosecuting criminals and professionally serving the Douglas County community.

The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office practices in the Superior Court, prosecuting all felony cases. The Solicitor General’s Office prosecutes misdemeanor cases in the State Court of Douglas County.