Commonwealth's Attorney is the title given to the elected felony prosecutor in states that are officially called "commonwealth." The Commonwealths of Kentucky, and Virginia use this title while other states refer to these prosecutor's as District Attorney, or State's Attorney for their felony prosecutors. A felony, in many common law legal systems, is the term for a very serious crime, whereas misdemeanors are considered to be less serious offenses. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... The English noun Commonwealth dates originally from the fifteenth century. ... Official language(s) English Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... A district attorney is, in some U.S. jurisdictions, the title of the local public official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminals. ... The State Attorney (also called States Attorney or District Attorney or D.A.) is an appointed or elected official who is often the chief law enforcement officer of his or her respective county circuit or district. ...

The Commonwealth's Attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of Assistant Commonwealth's Attorneys.

All states also have an State Attorney General who serves as the chief legal advisor to the state government and the chief law enforcement officer in the various states. The State Attorney General in the United States is an executive office in all 50 US States that serves as the chief legal advisor to the state government and the chief law enforcement officer in the various states. ...

The role of Commonwealth's Attorneys, District Attorneys, and State' Attorneys should not be confused with the role of a County Attorney or City Attorney whose authority is usually limited by individual state constitutions to non-felony infractions or misdemeanor cases. A county attorney in the United States is the prosecutor for a county or local judicial district. ... A misdemeanors (or misdemeanour), in many common law legal systems, is a lesser criminal act. ...

Kentucky derived the title of the office from Virginia, as it did much of its law when it was broken away from Virginia to become the 15th state. Official language(s) English Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

Commonwealth's Attorneys are elected in their separate jurisdictions in both Virginia and Kentucky. This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Official language(s) English Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ...

External links

• www.prosecutor.info indexes 2,900+ prosecutor and Commonwealth's Attorney web sites throughout the USA and other countries.
• Constitution of Virginia
• Kentucky Constitution
• Virginia Statutes
• Kentucky Statutes
• Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, Chesterfield County, Virginia (Chesterfield)
• Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, Jefferson County, Kentucky (Louisville)
• Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney, Fayette County, Kentucky (Lexington)