Coming soon: New top federal prosecutor for the District

On Tuesday a commission of 17 members will begin considering candidates for the next U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.

With all due respect to Police Chief Cathy Lanier and FBI boss Joe Persechini and many of the lawmen in neighboring counties, the chief federal prosecutor in the capital city has the most clout. He or she can decide who and how to prosecute, from street drug dealers in D.C. to terrorists planning to bomb an embassy in Africa.