Georgia District Attorneys

Here's what you should know about the district attorney's role in Georgia:

• Scope and jurisdiction: Georgia is divided into 50 judicial circuits, and each circuit has its own district attorney. The circuits span from one to eight counties.
• Election and role: Every district attorney is an elected official. Their primary duties include representing the state during the trial and appellate process for felony cases in the Superior Court, as well as juvenile delinquency cases. In counties where there's a solicitor general, the solicitor general handles misdemeanors.
• Grand jury process: A significant part of a D.A.'s job involves convening a grand jury. This group, made up of citizens, reviews evidence to determine if there's enough cause to formally accuse someone of a crime. The D.A. presents the evidence and witnesses, and the grand jury decides if there are grounds for an indictment.
• Collaboration with law enforcement: As officers in the criminal justice system, D.A.s work with police and other law enforcement during investigations.
• Victim advocacy: D.A.s also indirectly support victims of crimes. Victim-witness personnel work out of the district attorney and solicitor-general offices. They help guide victims through the criminal justice process and suggest helpful resources.

Solicitor General

While district attorneys handle felonies, the Office of the Solicitor General prosecutes misdemeanor cases. They are the prosecuting attorney for the State of Georgia during trials and appeals of misdemeanor cases in the state courts. These cases include DUIs, shoplifting, simple battery, and violations of county codes.

Georgia consists of 159 counties. In 67 of these, misdemeanor cases are the responsibility of the solicitor-general, an elected county official.

Typically, a solicitor prosecutes all misdemeanors and all traffic and ordinance violations in a jurisdiction. The district attorney in the jurisdiction prosecutes all other crimes.

Public Defender

If the district attorney's office has charged you with a violation of Georgia criminal law and you can't afford an attorney, you might be able to get legal services from a public defender. Public defenders specialize in criminal law. According to the Georgia Public Defender Council, they represent 85 percent of criminal defendants in Georgia. There are 44 different public defender offices statewide.

Georgia also has federal public defenders. They represent people accused of federal crimes. They do not represent people in state court or handle civil matters. U.S. attorneys serve as the principal federal prosecutors.

Those who need legal representation in juvenile court can also get a public defender. A juvenile charged with a delinquent act or probation violation punishable by detention whose parents meet the income guidelines will be assigned a public defender under O.C.G.A. 17-12-2.

If you've got a civil matter and you can't afford your own attorney, you can look to one of the state's non-profit legal services corporations. Georgia Legal Services (GLS) gives help to those outside the Atlanta area. Those inside the Atlanta area can get help from Atlanta Legal Services. It offers legal help in areas including family law, housing, and access to public benefits.

Georgia Attorney General

The Office of the Georgia Attorney General serves as the legal advisor for agencies, officers, and employees of the state government. Some of the specific duties of the attorney general include:

• Protecting Georgia consumers and businesses from unfair and deceptive practices
• Representing Georgia before the U.S. Supreme Court
• Filing actions (civil or criminal) on behalf of the state when requested by the governor
• Preparing and reviewing contracts

Directory of Georgia District Attorneys

Below you can find links (where available) to district attorneys throughout Georgia.

Note: Although we strive to provide the most current contact and website information available for the D.A. offices in this state, this information is subject to change. If you have found contact or website information that is not current, please contact us.

Georgia District Attorney Charged You With a Crime? An Attorney Can Help

Whether a Georgia district attorney charged you with a misdemeanor case or a felony, you should understand the law and the facts against you before agreeing to any plea negotiation or entering a "guilty" plea. That's why you should get in touch with a local criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.