978.05. Duties of the district attorney | Statutes | Westlaw

(1) Criminal actions. Except as otherwise provided by law, prosecute all criminal actions before any court within his or her prosecutorial unit and have sole responsibility for prosecution of all criminal actions arising from violations of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 and from violations of other laws arising from or in relation to the official functions of the subject of the investigation or any matter that involves elections, ethics, or lobbying regulation under chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19, that are alleged to be committed by a resident of his or her prosecutorial unit, or if alleged to be committed by a nonresident of this state, that are alleged to occur in his or her prosecutorial unit unless another prosecutor is substituted under s. 5.05(2m)(i) or 19.49(2)(h) or this chapter or by referral of the elections commission under s. 5.05(2m)(c)15. or 16. or the ethics commission under s. 19.49(2)(b)13. or 14. For purposes of this subsection, a person other than an individual is a resident of a prosecutorial unit if the person's principal place of operation is located in that prosecutorial unit.

(2) Forfeitures. Except as otherwise provided by law, prosecute all state forfeiture actions, county traffic actions and actions concerning violations of county ordinances which are in conformity with state criminal laws in the courts within his or her prosecutorial unit and have joint responsibility, together with the elections commission and the ethics commission, for prosecution of all forfeiture actions arising from violations of chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 and from violations of other laws arising from or in relation to the official functions of the subject of the investigation or any matter that involves elections, ethics, or lobbying regulation under chs. 5 to 12, subch. III of ch. 13, or subch. III of ch. 19 that are alleged to be committed by a resident of his or her prosecutorial unit, or if alleged to be committed by a nonresident of this state, that are alleged to occur within his or her prosecutorial unit unless another prosecutor is substituted under s. 5.05(2m)(h) or 19.49(2)(g) or this chapter or by referral of the elections commission under s. 5.05(2m)(c)15. or 16. or the ethics commission under s. 19.49(2)(b)13. or 14. For purposes of this subsection, a person other than an individual is a resident of a prosecutorial unit if the person's principal place of operation is located in that prosecutorial unit.

(3) John Doe proceedings. Participate in investigatory proceedings under s. 968.26.

(4) Grand jury. When requested by a grand jury under s. 968.47, attend the grand jury for the purpose of examining witnesses in their presence; give the grand jury advice in any legal matter; draw bills of indictment; and issue subpoenas and other processes to compel the attendance of witnesses.

(4m) Welfare fraud investigations. Cooperate with the departments of children and families and health services regarding the fraud investigation programs under ss. 49.197(1m) and 49.845(1).

(5) Criminal appeals. Upon the request and under the supervision and direction of the attorney general, brief and argue all criminal cases brought by appeal or writ of error or certified from a county within his or her prosecutorial unit to the court of appeals or supreme court. The district attorney for the prosecutorial unit in which the case was filed shall represent the state in any appeal or other proceeding if the case is decided by a single court of appeals judge, as specified in s. 752.31(3).

(7) Actions transferred to another county. If the place of trial is changed in any action or proceeding under this section to another county within or outside his or her prosecutorial unit, prosecute or defend the action or proceeding in that county.

(9) Budget. Prepare a biennial budget request for submission to the department under s. 978.11 by September 1 of each even-numbered year.