Determines whether and how to prosecute supported criminal charges
Position guide
District Attorney General
Leads criminal prosecution for the state within a Tennessee judicial district.
- Government level
- Judicial district · Prosecution
- Typical term
- Eight years
- Who it serves
- One Tennessee judicial district
The job in plain language01 02 03 04 How the position worksHow someone reaches the position Who the office works with Real-world choices01 02 03 Before you vote
What this position is responsible for
The office’s charging and prosecution decisions affect victims, defendants, public safety, and court workloads.
Presents cases to grand juries and courts
Negotiates plea agreements
Directs assistant prosecutors and victim-support work
Power is shared—not exercised alone.
Voters in each Tennessee judicial district elect a district attorney general for an eight-year term.
The office works with law-enforcement agencies, grand juries, courts, victims, witnesses, defense attorneys, public defenders, and community partners. Judges—not prosecutors—decide guilt and impose sentences.
Decisions voters may notice
Whether available evidence supports filing, reducing, dismissing, or trying charges
Plea negotiations and prosecution priorities within legal and ethical duties
Allocation of attorneys and victim-support resources across the judicial district
Questions worth asking
The answers may differ among candidates, but each question relates directly to the authority and responsibilities of this position.
- How would the candidate promote consistent charging decisions and disclose office policies?
- What safeguards would address wrongful convictions, conflicts, and misconduct?
- How would the office balance public safety, victims’ needs, proportionality, and limited resources?
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