Opinion ID: 1625408
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Bad Faith Prosecution

Text: The third count of the bill of information concerns the extortion charges filed by Perez against Elliott, the grand jury foreman, and Joseph Defley. The state charged that Perez brought the extortion charges in bad faith without probable cause and with felonious intent of punishing Elliott for performing his duty as grand jury foreman. The district attorney has entire charge and control of every criminal prosecution instituted or pending in his district and determines whom, when and how he shall prosecute. La.C.Cr.P. art. 61; State v. Collins, 242 La. 704, 138 So.2d 546 (1962); State v. Jourdain, 225 La. 1030, 74 So.2d 203 (1954). The district attorney is given absolute discretion in the institution of criminal charges. As there is no provision of law that defines or limits the type of cases a district attorney may prosecute, the portion of the bill of information which charges Perez with instituting charges against Elliott and Defley in bad faith and without probable cause does not charge a crime under a valid statute.