A district attorney (DA) serves as the chief prosecutor for a local government area—typically a county—representing the state's people in criminal trials, and the title varies by state (e.g., state's attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or county attorney). These officials wield considerable power, including deciding what criminal charges to file, directing grand jury proceedings, granting witness immunity, and negotiating plea bargains, while overseeing a staff of assistant district attorneys who handle most routine cases. In nearly all states, DAs are directly elected in partisan elections, making the role politically accountable—though they are appointed in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, and New Jersey, with the federal equivalent being the United States Attorney. The historic title stems from New York's use of multi-county "districts" before 1813, and the name persisted even after jurisdictions shifted to single counties. Beyond trials, DAs often advise local law enforcement, prosecute traffic and misdemeanor violations, and guide sentencing recommendations, making them one of the most influential figures in the American criminal justice system.