A Prosecutor’s Ethical Obligations as They Relate to Pre-Trial Discovery

A Prosecutor’s Ethical Obligations as They Relate to Pre-Trial Discovery

By Robert C. Phillips
Deputy District Attorney, Ret.
July, 2021

            It goes without saying that a prosecutor does indeed wield significant power.  While the loyalties of a defense attorney in any criminal case typically relate to but one person, i.e., the defendant, the prosecutor in a state case represents “The People of the State of California.”  Under California’s Government Code:  “The district attorney is the public prosecutor, except as otherwise provided by law.  The public prosecutor shall attend the courts, and within his or her discretion ....

© 2026 Legal Updates, LLC.
This content is protected by copyright law. Republishing or redistribution in any form without written permission is strictly prohibited. For licensing or reprint requests, contact support@legalupdates.com.