The accuser’s right to withdraw from Lubbock civil and criminal domestic violence actions can be complicated. The accuser, called the plaintiff, can drop charges in a civil action at any time. On the criminal side, the accuser does not have the authority to press or drop charges. That is up to the district attorney. Sometimes in a domestic violence case, the complaining witness will file an affidavit on the prosecution. Which has some weight with the district attorney. In some instances, the district attorney will decide to prosecute anyway. In a civil case, the plaintiff can always withdraw from the lawsuit. But in a criminal case, that right is transferred to the state.