D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton today introduced a bill that would allow District residents to elect their own District Attorney for the first time.

“We’re happy to help the president select the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. But for local crimes, we need a D.A. elected directly by the people of this city, just as other jurisdictions select their own chief law enforcement officials,” Norton said in a statement.

Before DCist readers get too excited, please be mindful that this is a D.A. position Norton is talking about here, not the A.G. position currently occupied by the controversial Peter Nickles. The District is currently served by a top prosecutor for both federal and local crimes in the form of the U.S. Attorney for D.C.

District voters already passed a referendum approving a locally elected D.A., in 2002, but since the change would constitute an amendment to the Home Rule charter, Congress and the President both need to act before the office can finally be established.