WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) -- Members of the D.C. Council, which voted to authorize a referendum on an elected attorney general in the District of Columbia in 2010, reportedly are considering delaying the election.
In fact, some members of the council have mentioned shelving the election indefinitely, according to a Washington Post report earlier this week.
In 2010, a majority of voters favored the District's Home Rule Charter be amended to allow the election of an attorney general.
Currently, the District's attorney general is appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the D.C. Council.
In 2015, the Attorney General's Office will become fully independent of mayoral control.
But there has been much disagreement lately over the role of the elected attorney general.
District Mayor Vincent Gray and his appointed attorney general, Irvin Nathan, support legislation -- which would help effectuate the change in the office -- that would remove half of the lawyers from the elected attorney general's supervision and have them report directly to the mayor.
But others, including some D.C. Council members, argue doing so will defeat the purpose of having an independent, elected attorney general.
So far, no one has expressed interest in running for the office -- not even Nathan.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by email at jessica@legalnewsline.com.