<P> In Anglo - American law , the party bringing a criminal action ( that is , in most cases , the state ) is called the prosecution , but the party bringing a civil action is the plaintiff . In both kinds of action the other party is known as the defendant . A criminal case against a person called Ms. Sanchez would be described as `` United States vs. ( = versus , or against ) Sanchez '' in the United States if initiated by the federal government ; if initiated by a state , it would typically be called `` ( Name of the State ) vs. Sanchez '' or `` The People vs. Sanchez . '' In England , it would be styled `` R. ( Regina , that is , the Queen ) vs. Sanchez . '' But a civil action between Ms. Sanchez and a Mr. Smith would be `` Sanchez vs. Smith '' if started by Sanchez , and `` Smith vs. Sanchez '' if started by Mr. Smith . </P>
<P> In Anglo - American law , the party bringing a criminal action ( that is , in most cases , the state ) is called the prosecution , but the party bringing a civil action is the plaintiff . In both kinds of action the other party is known as the defendant . A criminal case against a person called Ms. Sanchez would be described as `` United States vs. ( = versus , or against ) Sanchez '' in the United States if initiated by the federal government ; if initiated by a state , it would typically be called `` ( Name of the State ) vs. Sanchez '' or `` The People vs. Sanchez . '' In England , it would be styled `` R. ( Regina , that is , the Queen ) vs. Sanchez . '' But a civil action between Ms. Sanchez and a Mr. Smith would be `` Sanchez vs. Smith '' if started by Sanchez , and `` Smith vs. Sanchez '' if started by Mr. Smith . </P>
what are the parties in a criminal case
what are the parties in a criminal case
prosecution defendant
prosecution defendant