The Major Role of District Attorneys

An established legal practitioner with more than two decades of experience as a prosecutor, Susan Corcoran currently serves as an assistant district attorney with the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office. She assists in every aspect of a jury trial as a prosecutor, from motion preparation to teaching litigation techniques. Susan Corcoran began her career in the 1980s with the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office as an assistant district attorney.

Sometimes called 'prosecuting attorney' or 'county attorney' (depending on the state), a district attorney is an elected official who represents the appointed state in criminal cases. The role of district attorneys in each state is to mitigate crime and ensure that justice is served. In this endeavor, they guide and work with law enforcement agencies, interact with crime witnesses, present cases to grand juries, attend hearings, and participate in criminal trials when necessary.

When the police arrest a suspect for a crime, it is not up to them to determine whether criminal charges are to be filed. District attorneys serve this role. As representative of the state, they will gather and scrutinize all pertinent evidence, and talk to witnesses to determine whether the suspect is likely to be involved in a serious crime. If the offense is a misdemeanor, the case may not necessarily end with a trial; instead, the attorney may take a more lenient route such as a plea bargain. A felony charge, on the other hand, typically ends in a trial. The trial may be preceded by a grand jury or preliminary hearing in which the district attorney shows all evidence that links the defendant to alleged offenses.

Art as a Hobby Begins with the Essentials

Susan Corcoran, an assistant district attorney from Milton, Massachusetts, is a prosecutor with the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office. Outside of her role as a prosecutor, Susan Corcoran has hobbies that include art.

Picking up a pencil or paintbrush does not have to be intimidating for those looking to tap into their creative talents through art. Many would-be artists can keep it simple by focusing on their tools and choosing subjects drawn from their inspiration.

The novice artist has a few different drawing tools to express themselves. The most common are acrylics, oils, or watercolors. According to a Good House Keeping article published in January 2020, no one tool is better than the other, and in fact, choosing one depends on the individual’s situation.

For example, if on a budget, acrylics and watercolors tend to be less expensive than oils. On the other hand, acrylics dry faster than the other two options and have been the most popular choice of artists since the 1960s. Ultimately, choosing a drawing tool depends on the needs of the artist.

Novice artists should also plan to purchase a variety of paintbrushes in a range of sizes. Also, some experts suggest using art paper rather than standard print paper, which tends to be a bit thin.

Finally, there is no painting without a subject, so finding a muse to draw is essential. Art lovers may look to nature among other sources for inspiration. Additionally, other sources of inspiration might come from a person’s catalog of photos or personal life.