Judge sworn in Friday as federal prosecutor for eastern Missouri

ST. LOUIS -- Richard Callahan has been sworn in as U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Missouri.

Chief U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry administered the oath of office to the 62-year-old longtime prosecutor Friday at the federal courthouse in St. Louis.

Callahan was nominated by President Barack Obama in September to serve as the top federal prosecutor in the 50-county district. He succeeds Michael Reap, who served as interim U.S. attorney since April.

Callahan is a St. Louis native. He served as a Cole County circuit judge since 2002, following 16 years as Cole County's elected prosecutor.