ABSTRACT

The prosecutor plays a pivotal role in the U.S. court system. Because of the prosecutor’s unique power, he or she is able to influence the management, the court caseload, as well as the quality of justice in a way that supersedes all other members of the courtroom workgroup, including the judge. According to one scholar:

Although the prosecutor is a member of the judicial branch of government, one of the roles the prosecutor performs is actually a function of the executive branch. That is, the prosecutor represents the state (both the government and the people) and acts as an advocate rather than a passive functionary of the court system [2].