Santelle nominated for U.S. Attorney in eastern Wisconsin (10:29 p.m. 11/30/09)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — President Barack Obama has nominated James Santelle as the next U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Santelle was nominated by Obama on Monday. Santelle said he’s honored by the nomination and the support from Sens. Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin.

The 51-year-old has served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Milwaukee office since 1985. He’s held several roles in that job: From 2006 to 2008, he served as a United States Department of Justice Attache and Rule of Law Coordinator to the United States Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.

Santelle’s nomination still must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

If confirmed, he’ll replace Steven Biskupic, who resigned in January.