BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - A U.S. Justice Department employee has been appointed as interim U.S. attorney for Alabama's Northern District, which covers Huntsville and Birmingham.
Attorney General William Barr announced the appointment of Prim F. Escalona to the position Thursday. She replaces Jay Town, who resigned to take a position with a defense contractor.
"Prim is a dedicated public servant with extensive legal experience. Prim's commitment to preserving the rule of law and dedication to the mission of the Department of Justice will make her an outstanding U.S. Attorney for her home state of Alabama," Barr said in a statement.
Escalona, who received her law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law, has held multiple leadership positions within the Department of Justice. For the past two years, she has served in the department's Office of Legislative Affairs as the principal deputy assistant attorney general. She has also served in the Office of Legal Policy.
Before that, Escalona was an associate at Birmingham-based Maynard, Cooper & Gale, a visiting assistant professor at the University of Alabama School of Law and a deputy solicitor general in Alabama's Attorney General's office.