Legal Definitions - United States Attorney

United States Attorneys are lawyers who represent the federal government in district and appellate courts. They work in 94 districts across the country and are responsible for prosecuting criminal cases and representing the government in civil cases.

For example, if someone is accused of committing a federal crime like drug trafficking or fraud, the United States Attorney would be the one to prosecute the case in court. They would also defend the government in civil cases, such as when someone sues a federal agency for violating their rights.

United States Attorneys are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for four-year terms. They work under the supervision of the U.S. Attorney General and the Executive Office of United States Attorneys, but they have a lot of independence in how they handle cases.

They can also work with federal lawenforcement agencies like the FBI to investigate and build cases against people who have broken federal laws.