Opinion ID: 2326508
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Division of Prosecutorial Authority Between the USAO and the OAG

Text: Title 23, Section 101 of the D.C.Code divides prosecutorial authority between the OAG and the USAO for offenses committed in the District. Specifically, § 23-101(a) provides: Prosecutions for violations of all police or municipal ordinances or regulations and for violations of all penal statutes in the nature of police or municipal regulations, where the maximum punishment is a fine only, or imprisonment not exceeding one year, shall be conducted in the name of the District of Columbia by the [OAG], except as otherwise provided in such ordinance, regulation, or statute, or in this section. With some exceptions not relevant here, [a]ll other criminal prosecutions shall be conducted in the name of the United States by the USAO. D.C.Code § 23-101(c). [1] This division of authority, which Congress made approximately a century ago, roughly assigns minor crimes to the OAG, and more serious matters to the USAO. In re Crawley, 978 A.2d at 610. D.C.Code § 23-101 further provides that if any question shall arise as to whether, under this section, the prosecution should be conducted by the [OAG] or by the United States [A]ttorney, the presiding judge shall . . . certify the case to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, which court shall hear and determine the question in a summary way. D.C.Code § 23-101(f).