David Saacks, the chief assistant district attorney, was chosen as the next Durham district attorney, Gov. Mike Easley announced Thursday.
"Judge [Jim] Hardin [former interim district attorney] and his colleagues have good confidence in Saacks's abilities to handle the task at hand," Easley said in a statement.
Saacks will serve as district attorney until the November 2008 elections.
As a Wake County resident, Saacks cannot participate in the elections, but his residence did not affect his eligibility for the appointed position.
"I don't know him, but I assume the governor made the right choice, that he is very capable and can do the job," Mayor Bill Bell said.
Hardin will now return to his previous position of special Superior Court judge. He served as interim district attorney after former Durham district attorney Mike Nifong resigned July 2.
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