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Publication Date

5-28-2025

Document Type

Comment

Abstract

In the modern justice system that we know today, prosecutors play a significant role in shaping the lives, reputations, and liberties the everyday American enjoys. Former United States Attorney General and Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson once said, “[t]he prosecutor has more control over life, liberty, and reputation than any other person in America.” A prosecutor’s position in the criminal justice system is unlike any other, holding the power to decide who gets charged with a crime and the severity of those charges. This power has evolved, moving from a system where individuals and families had to fight for justice for their loved ones to one where the state prosecutes crimes on behalf of society. The prosecutor’s role in the United States resulted from influences from English, French, and Dutch legal traditions, which shaped the office as we know it today.

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