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").
King William is an unincorporated community in and the county seat of King William County, Virginia, United States. Located in King William is the oldest courthouse in continuous use in the United States, built in 1725. The community is also known as King William Courthouse or by an alternative spelling, King William Court House.