Legal Definitions - Special prosecutor

A special prosecutor is a type of prosecutor who is appointed to investigate a criminal case independently. This is done to avoid any potential conflicts of interest or to ensure that the prosecutor has expertise in a specific area.

For example, in the United States, a special prosecutor is referred to as a "special counsel" and can be appointed by the attorney general to investigate an individual or matter in cases where a Justice Department investigation would present a conflict of interest or in other "extraordinary circumstances."

One notable example of a special counsel is Ken Starr, who was appointed to investigate the Clinton Whitewater scandal. Another example is Lawrence Walsh, who was appointed to investigate the Iran-Contra Affair.

These examples illustrate how a special prosecutor is appointed to investigate a specific case or individual independently, without any potential conflicts of interest or biases.