Answer:
In criminal cases, defendants can use excuse and justification defenses to eliminate their criminal liability. An excuse defense claims that even though the defendant committed the criminal act with criminal intent, they should not be responsible for their behavior. A justification defense claims that the defendant’s conduct should be legal rather than criminal because it supports a principle valued by society.
The prosecutor is often considered the most powerful of all courtroom participants because they control the direction and outcome of all criminal cases through their charging and plea-bargaining decisions. These decisions have a greater impact and more serious consequences than those of any other criminal justice official.