By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
Jefferson City, Mo. – Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan has been nominated by President Barack Obama as the next U.S. attorney in eastern Missouri. A circuit judge in Jefferson City since 2002, his tenure has included handling high-profile challenges to state laws and ballot initiatives.
Before serving as a circuit judge, he worked for 16 years as the Cole County prosecutor. Some notable cases during his term include the prosecution of Secretary of State Judith Moriarty for a misdemeanor election offense in 1994 and the prosecution of Senator J.B. "Jet" Banks for filing false tax returns in 1999.
If the Senate confirms Callahan's appointment as U.S. attorney, Gov. Jay Nixon would appoint a replacement state judge to serve until the next regular election.