15.2-1627 - Duties of attorneys for the Commonwealth and their assistants.
§ 15.2-1627. Duties of attorneys for the Commonwealth and their assistants.
A. No attorney for the Commonwealth, or assistant attorney for theCommonwealth, shall be required to carry out any duties as a part of hisoffice in civil matters of advising the governing body and all boards,departments, agencies, officials and employees of his county or city; ofdrafting or preparing county or city ordinances; of defending or bringingactions in which the county or city, or any of its boards, departments oragencies, or officials and employees thereof, shall be a party; or in anyother manner of advising or representing the county or city, its boards,departments, agencies, officials and employees, except in matters involvingthe enforcement of the criminal law within the county or city.
B. The attorney for the Commonwealth and assistant attorney for theCommonwealth shall be a part of the department of law enforcement of thecounty or city in which he is elected or appointed, and shall have the dutiesand powers imposed upon him by general law, including the duty of prosecutingall warrants, indictments or informations charging a felony, and he may inhis discretion, prosecute Class 1, 2 and 3 misdemeanors, or any otherviolation, the conviction of which carries a penalty of confinement in jail,or a fine of $500 or more, or both such confinement and fine. He shallenforce all forfeitures, and carry out all duties imposed upon him by §2.2-3126.
(1977, c. 584, § 15.1-8.1; 1978, c. 141; 1988, c. 389; 1997, c. 587.)