Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Public prosecutor
(783 words)

A public prosecutor is a public official tasked with instituting legal proceedings. Almost all German territories established a Staatsanwaltschaft (public prosecutor’s office) around the middle of the 19th century (Local authority), with a sphere of responsibilities that encompassed preferring charges in criminal cases, influencing the course of criminal proceedings by submitting motions, and pursuing legal remedies against court rulings as necessary. Other powers, particularly relating to civil procedures, were of little practical significance. These Staatsanwa…

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Collin, Peter, “Public prosecutor”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 26 September 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_SIM_027926>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20210107



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