Peter Nickles
WASHINGTON (Legal Newline)-Peter Nickles was nominated Friday by District of Columbia Mayor Adrian Fenty to serve as the District's permanent attorney general.
Nickles, 69, is the Democratic mayor's former general counsel who has been serving as interim attorney general since Linda Singer resigned in December.
He could have served six months on an interim basis. That term expires July 3.
"Peter Nickles has done a fantastic job for the residents of the District in his interim capacity," Fenty said. "In just a few short months, he and his team have done some great work. We're privileged to have him continue to serve."
A former veteran corporate lawyer at Covington & Burling, Nickles sparked some criticism recently for firing several city lawyers as part of his campaign to improve the District's AG office.
The District of Columbia has the seventh largest AG's office in the nation, with 750 employees and a $90 million budget.
Nickles, who took office in December, is aiming to transform the office into a "first-rate law firm" with "strong, young, able stars," he has said.
Although most mayoral appointees are required by law to live in the District, Nickles lives with his wife in Great Falls, Va. He said he will comply with the residency requirement.
City law gives him 180 days after a nomination to move into the District's borders.
From Legal Newsline: Reach reporter Chris Rizo by e-mail at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.