NALA Certified Paralegal Practice Exam

A public prosecutor, also known as a district attorney or U.S. attorney, is a legal representative of the government in criminal cases. They are responsible for bringing charges against the defendant and advocating for the state. This is different from a public defender, who is appointed to represent the defendant and ensure their rights are protected in court. The U.S. attorney specifically refers to a federal prosecutor, while a district attorney is typically used to refer to a state prosecutor. Both of these options are incorrect because they do not fulfill the role of a court-appointed attorney for a criminal defendant who cannot afford their own legal representation.