Obama nominates U.S. attorney for central Illinois

CHICAGO (AP) – President Barack Obama has nominated a longtime federal prosecutor to be the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin recommended James Lewis to the president.

Durbin says Lewis has served in the central district for more than 25 years. He's been both an assistant U.S. attorney and chief of the civil division.

Lewis has also served as a trial attorney with the Justice Department, a law professor and civil rights lawyer in Mississippi.

His nomination now moves to the Senate Judiciary Committee. If the committee approves him, the full Senate will vote on his appointment.