Simple English definitions for legal terms
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The United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) is a part of the Department of Justice that represents the federal government in court. Each district has its own office led by a United States Attorney (USA) who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The USAO has three main responsibilities: prosecuting federal crimes, representing the United States in civil actions, and collecting debts owed to the federal government. They mainly focus on prosecuting crimes like drug trafficking, sex trafficking, child pornography, violations of federal firearm laws, and white-collar crime. The USA and Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) work closely with investigative bodies like the FBI and ATF to develop cases and appear frequently before federal courts.
The United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) is a part of the Department of Justice that represents the federal government in court. The USAO is led by a United States Attorney (USA) who is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) work under the USA and handle most of the USAO’s legal cases.
The USAO has three main responsibilities:
The majority of the USAO’s work involves prosecuting federal crimes, such as:
The USA and AUSAs frequently appear in federal district courts and federal courts of appeal. They also work closely with Department of Justice investigative bodies, such as the FBI and the ATF, to develop cases.
For example, if someone is caught trafficking drugs across state lines, the USAO would be responsible for prosecuting them in federal court. The AUSAs would work with the FBI to gather evidence and build a case against the defendant.
United States Attorney | United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)