Senate Panel OKs Fardon Nomination For U.S. Attorney

CHICAGO (AP) -- The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted unanimously to approve President Barack Obama's nominee to head the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago.

Zachary Fardon's nomination now moves to the full Senate after Thursday's approval. No date has been fixed for the Senate vote.

The 46-year-old would replace Patrick Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald resigned last year to enter private practice after more than a decade in the high-profile post.

Fardon served as an assistant U.S. attorney before entering private practice himself. In Chicago, he helped convict former Illinois Gov. George Ryan for corruption.

In a Thursday statement, Sen. Dick Durbin says he'll push for the Senate to confirm Fardon as quickly as possible.

The Democrat says Fardon will have to "hit the ground running" and focus immediately on gang and gun violence in Chicago.

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