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").
Waxahachie is a city in Ellis County, Texas, United States. The population was 21,426 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Ellis County. Waxahachie was the birthplace of Tom Blasingame, considered the oldest cowboy in the history of the American West, R&B singer Tevin Campbell, and also of Byron Nelson, a professional golf legend. According to An Informal History of Texas by Frank X. Tolbert, "Waxahachie" is an Indian word meaning "cow creek."