04/25/2024
What is the role of the County Prosecuting Attorney?
Summary of Office
The county prosecuting attorney represents the county in the various county-level courts.
Number to Be Elected
One per county. Can be elected or appointed.
Term of Office
Elected at-large for a 4-year term. The term of office of county attorney starts on the first Monday of January after the election.
Criteria to Run
Must reside in the district from which he/she is chosen and must be a qualified elector. Must be a regular licensed and practicing
lawyer.
Duties of Office
The county prosecuting attorney represents the state in all investigations for a felony before the various justice court judges in
the county. He/she also appears before justice court judges and prosecutes all cases against people charged with offenses. The
county prosecuting attorney is the prosecuting attorney for the county court. The county prosecuting attorney may present any
matter to the grand jury of his/her county. The county prosecuting attorney has full responsibility for all misdemeanors, youth
court proceedings, and all other cases not specifically granted to the district attorney.
Additional information about this office can be found in the Mississippi Code Title 19 Chapter 23.
