Many Republicans, even those who were disinclined to hear from witnesses last week, have said that prosecutors persuaded them to change their minds.

But he says the courthouse cliche that a prosecutor could persuade a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich is ridiculous.

It started in 1988, when prosecutors persuaded cartel member Savino to become an informant and wear a wire.

Even if prosecutors persuade jurors to vote for capital punishment, many years of uncertainty follow.

In death penalty cases, in which prosecutors must persuade jurors, appellate judges, governors or presidents to endorse taking lives, any factor can be critical.

They argued that prosecutors persuaded the housekeeper to falsely accuse Al-Turki after a failed bid to construct a terrorism case.

(Good prosecutors persuade grand juries to make charges in an indictment and then shut up until trial or plea.)

A prosecutor later persuaded 12 white jurors that he was guilty, and the judge sentenced him to life in prison.

The state's prosecutors reviewed each proposed deportation and persuaded the Clemency Board to rescind 12 offers of release.

His prosecutors eventually persuaded another judge to jail the banker pending a trial, but Mr. Madrazo's emotions still run high when he recalls the incident.