Obama chooses Hagan pick for U.S. Attorney post

President Barack Obama on Wednesday nominated North Carolina Judge Ripley Rand, the son of veteran state Senator Tony Rand, to the post of U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina.

Posted 12:03 a.m. Jul 29, 2010 — Updated 6:51 p.m. Dec 11, 2010

President Barack Obama on Wednesday nominated North Carolina Judge Ripley Rand, the son of veteran state Senator Tony Rand, to the post of U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina.

It is the president's perogative to nominate a replacement for current U.S. Attorney Anna Mills Wagoner, an appointee of President George W. Bush. The middle district has headquarters in Greensboro and encompasses 24 counties including Durham, Orange, Chatham, Hoke, Lee and Alamance.

Sen. Kay Hagan suggested Rand for the role more than a year ago, her office said in a statement.

"Judge Rand has been working to ensure justice for North Carolinians for more than 10 years, both as a superior court judge and an assistant district attorney. He will continue serving our state proudly as a U.S. Attorney, and I will be working with my colleagues to ensure a swift confirmation for Judge Rand," Hagan said.

Rand has served as a superior court judge in Wake County since 2002.

He is the judge who ruled in December that convicted murderers Alford Jones and Faye Brown, both sentenced to life in the 1970s had effectively served their time and should be released. The state Court of Appeals quickly halted that decision and has yet to issue a final ruling.

Prior to his appointment to the bench, Rand served as an assistant district attorney in Raleigh.

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