Fardon Sworn In as New US Attorney

The chief judge at the federal courthouse in Chicago has sworn in Zachary Fardon to be the next U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

Fardon, 47, took his oath of office from Judge Ruben Castillo after President Obama signed his commission.

“I am honored and excited to serve as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois," Fardon said. "I spent my formative years as a prosecutor in this office, so I feel like I am back home. 

Fardon's nomination was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate last week. With his swearing in, he formally assumes the high-profile post Wednesday.

Fardon was nominated by President Barack Obama to succeed Patrick Fitzgerald, who rose to national prominence during more than a decade in the office and successfully convicted two Illinois governors.

Fardon was on the team of federal prosecutors who secured convictions against former Illinois Gov. George Ryan in 2006.

"I look forward to continuing the office’s strong traditions of fairness and excellence in the pursuit of justice on behalf of the nine million residents of the Northern District of Illinois,” Fardon said.