Final answer:
The Attorney General acts as a legal advisor to the governor and is not typically the lead prosecutor, defense attorney, or chief justice in capital cases; the Solicitor General represents the federal government before the Supreme Court.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of the Attorney General in capital cases is to act as a legal advisor to the governor. It is a common misconception that the Attorney General serves as a lead prosecutor in capital cases; however, that role often falls to local prosecutors or district attorneys at the state level. In cases involving federal law, it is the Solicitor General who represents the federal government before the Supreme Court, deciding which cases to appeal from the lower courts and personally approving each case brought before the Court.
The Solicitor General's office prepares and files the petitions and briefs, and the Solicitor General or an assistant presents the oral arguments. While the Attorney General may have prosecutorial functions, in the context of capital cases, they do not typically serve as the defense attorney, chief justice, or the lead prosecutor on the ground.