The Los Angeles Times is reporting the swift inauguration of Thomas P. O'Brien as the new US Attorney for San Bernardino County. O'Brien, nominated by President Bush, will head the Los Angeles office, which covers San Bernardino County, replacing George S. Cardona, who was serving as interim US Attorney for this district.

Here is an excerpt from the Times article on O'Brien's appointment:

Thomas P. O'Brien, a career prosecutor, was sworn in as U.S. attorney in Los Angeles on Friday in a private ceremony, a day after the Senate confirmed his nomination by President Bush.

O'Brien, 48, will oversee about 250 attorneys responsible for all federal prosecutions in the most populous judicial district in the nation, encompassing Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

"You are going to see a revitalized, energetic office move forward and meet the needs of this district," O'Brien said.

O'Brien was a welcome choice to many in the office. As head of the office's criminal division since 2005, he is viewed as a hands-on manager who helped maintain morale and drove prosecutors at a time of disheartened staff and funding shortages.

His appointment also shores up credibility for the office at a time when the Justice Department is reeling under accusations that nine U.S. attorneys were fired for political reasons. O'Brien is not known to be politically active or well-connected in Washington. Some legal observers have suggested the U.S. attorney scandal pushed Bush to pick O'Brien over more partisan candidates.

Read the article here.