Norton Introduces Bill to Give D.C. a Local Prosecutor

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today introduced the District of Columbia Local Prosecutor Establishment Act of 2015 to establish a local prosecutor's office, designated under local law, to prosecute all local crimes in the District of Columbia. Currently, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, a federal official, prosecutes most of D.C.'s criminal laws. Following a 2010 referendum, D.C. residents elected their first Attorney General, Karl Racine, in November, but his duties do not include prosecuting most local crimes.

"This bill is an important step toward further democratization in the District of Columbia," Norton said. "A representative to the people of the District of Columbia should have the weighty responsibility of prosecuting local crimes. The bill does no more than confer authority on D.C. to prosecute local crimes that the 50 states and most local jurisdictions prize as an essential element of self-government."

In 2002, 82% of D.C. voters supported a referendum to create a local prosecutor. The bill is an essential element of statehood.

In her opening statement, Norton said: "There is no law enforcement issue of greater importance to D.C. residents on which they have less say than the prosecution of local crimes here. A U.S. Attorney has no business prosecuting the local crimes of a jurisdiction, an anachronism that is out of place in any American self-governing jurisdiction. The goal of the legislation is to give the District the same jurisdiction over the criminal justice matters that state and local jurisdictions justifiably regard as mandatory."

Below is Norton's full introductory statement:

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the District of Columbia Local Prosecutor Establishment Act of 2015

Ms. Norton. Mr. Speaker. Today, I introduce the District of Columbia Local Prosecutor Establishment Act of 2015, to give District of Columbia residents another element of the self-government enjoyed by all other American citizens. The bill would establish a local prosecutor's office designated under local law, to prosecute all local crimes in the District. Under the Home Rule Act, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, a federal entity, is responsible for prosecuting most local crimes here, the greater part of its caseload, in addition to prosecuting federal crimes. This bill is special because it effectuates a 2002 advisory referendum, approved by 82 percent of D.C. voters, to create a local prosecutor's office.

There is no law enforcement issue of greater importance to D.C. residents on which they have less say than the prosecution of local crimes here. A U.S. Attorney has no business prosecuting the local crimes of a jurisdiction, an anachronism that is out of place in any American self-governing jurisdiction. The goal of the legislation is to give the District the same jurisdiction over the criminal justice matters that state and local jurisdictions justifiably regard as mandatory. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia would continue to handle federal matters, like the other U.S. Attorneys in our country. As presently constituted, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia is the largest in the country, only because it also serves as the local city prosecutor. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia needs to be freed up to handle national security and other vital federal cases, particularly in the post-9/11 nation's capital.

Amending the Home Rule Act to create a local prosecutor would be an important step toward our goal of achieving true self-government. I urge my colleagues to support this important measure.

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