State law currently allows private citizens the right to press charges under certain circumstances. In Alabama, a citizen or "victim" who has probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed can directly go to court and sign an arrest warrant before a magistrate, without the police or a judge's approval. The government will then handle the prosecution of the offense. California Private prosecutions are not legal in California. Colorado In 1974, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that private prosecutions were improper and prejudicial to the defendant. Georgia In Georgia, criminal proceedings may be initiated at the request of a private citizen, but only after the defendant is given an opportunity to argue why he or she should not be charged. Idaho Idaho allows private citizens to file criminal complaints to a magistrate; the magistrate can issue an arrest warrant upon satisfaction that a crime has occurred. Kentucky Kentucky allows a private citizen to initiate criminal cases by filing criminal complaints, although it is up to the county attorney or Commonwealth's attorney to decide whether to proceed with the case. Maryland Maryland allows private citizens to file affidavits against another citizen. Massachusetts Private prosecutions in Massachusetts were declared void in 1849 and formally outlawed in 1855. Michigan Michigan banned private prosecutions in 1875. Private citizens can however file and attest misdemeanor arrest warrants which if accepted by a judge or magistrate would be automatically transferred to a prosecuting attorney. Minnesota The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in 1977 in State ex rel. Wild v. Otis that a private citizen does not have a right to prosecute an alleged crime. Missouri The right to private prosecution in Missouri was removed in 1976 following the decision in State v. Harrington. New Hampshire New Hampshire allows private prosecution of any crime that does not carry incarceration as a possible penalty. However, prosecutors have the right to dismiss private criminal charges. New Jersey New Jersey continues to allow private prosecutions in its Municipal Courts. However, the 1995 decision of State v. Storm prohibited private prosecutions if the party intending to prosecute has a conflict of interest with the defendants or a financial interest in the case. Furthermore, state law states that all private prosecutions require approval of the county prosecutor and the court. New York In 2002, a federal district court concluded in Kampfer v. Vonderheide that private prosecutions were barred under New York