As an officer of the State government, the District Attorney represents the State in all criminal cases in this state judicial circuit (the "Eastern" circuit), which happens to be coextensive with Chatham County. The District Attorney prosecutes both felonies and misdemeanors.

This office also appears for preliminary hearings in committal court (Recorder's Court), as well as handling all cases in the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. In addition, this office handles such miscellaneous civil and quasi-criminal matters as probation revocations, condemnations, habeas corpus actions and post-conviction motions.