In a criminal case, the state, through a prosecutor, initiates the suit, while in a civil case the victim brings the suit. Persons convicted of a crime may be incarcerated, fined, or both. Criminal defense attorneys represent clients who have been accused of committing a crime, and defend their rights at each stage of a misdemeanor or felony case -- from an arrest to an appeal after conviction. Criminal defense attorneys may be hired privately or provided by the government (called "public defenders").
Boerne is a city in the Hill Country of Texas in the United States. It is the county seat of Kendall County. Boerne was named in honor of Ludwig Börne, a German author and publicist, and its population was 6,178 at the 2000 census. The July 1, 2008 Census estimate showed Boerne with a population of 10,283. The city is noted for the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case City of Boerne v. Flores. Boerne is part of the San Antonio–New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area.