Attorney

Services and Responsibilities:

The Office of County Attorney is prescribed by law.  This is a four-year term, elected position.  The County Attorney is the law enforcement authority that determines the crimes that will be charged and prosecuted in the county, including the authority to convene grand juries and to involve the Attorney General in federal crimes within the county.  The county Attorney prosecutes all State of Minnesota laws that are felonies and most gross misdemeanor cases.  

The County Attorney represents the State of Minnesota interests in child protection, civil commitments of chemically dependent and mentally ill persons, and psychopathic personalities.  

Requirements:

The County Attorney must be a licensed attorney.  This requires a bachelors degree from a college or university (B.A. or B.S.) and a Juris Doctor degree (J.D.) from an accredited law school, and admission to the Bar by the Supreme Court.  A county Attorney is an officer of the court in addition to the duties and responsibilities provided by law.