HAMMOND | A Lake Criminal Court judge, a Democratic insider and a former Indiana attorney general are among those interested in nabbing the area's coveted U.S. attorney position.
The U.S. attorney is the U.S. Justice Department's top lawyer and prosecutor for the Northern District of Indiana, which encompasses Northwest Indiana, South Bend, Fort Wayne and Lafayette. The person holding that post supervises 33 assistant federal prosecutors and a support staff of about four dozen.
In the Hammond-based Northern District, the U.S. attorney's office has been particularly active in large-scale drug and firearms violations and has pursued public corruption in Lake County, an effort that has resulted in the conviction of more than 50 public officials since the mid-1980s.
It is an appointed position selected, by tradition, by the senior U.S. senator of the same party as the president. The choice is officially selected by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Acting U.S. Attorney David Capp declined comment this week when asked if he would be interested in extending his time as U.S. attorney.
Local Republican lawyer and politico Joe Hero endorsed Capp, a Democrat who has worked under Republicans.
"He's got the experience and the training," Hero said. "He knows about all the investigations that have been going on."
Lake Criminal Court Judge Thomas Stefaniak Jr. also has interest in the post. Stefaniak said his experience as a prosecutor and private lawyer lend themselves to the U.S. attorney post.
"I believe I could have great impact on crimes that are committed, investigated by law enforcement and ultimately prosecuted," he said. "I believe that it is important to look at evidence law enforcement agencies bring, evaluate the evidence and to follow that evidence wherever it may lead, regardless of who is being investigated."
Stefaniak has been practicing law since 1988. He held several positions within the Lake County prosecutor's office before his successful election in 1995 to Hammond city judge on the Democratic ticket.
Stefaniak was appointed as Lake Criminal Court judge in 2001. He also serves as the chairman of the Indiana Judicial Administration Committee, which tackles workload measures for judges throughout the state.
Gary-based attorney Karen Freeman-Wilson, a former Indiana attorney general, said she would be interested in the job if it were offered. She also has served as Gary city judge as a Democrat and ran unsuccessfully for Gary mayor.
Democratic insider Jim Wieser, a Schererville lawyer, said he remains interested in the post.
Wieser was on the bottom floor of Barack Obama's campaign in Lake County. He also was instrumental in getting a judge to order early voting centers open in Hammond, Gary and East Chicago, a key to Obama's success in Lake County and his eventual victory in Indiana.
Wieser confirmed participating in conversations with several officials about the job, but told The Times he has heard nothing recently from the Obama administration.
He suspects, however, that the confirmation this week of Attorney General Eric Holder could quicken the U.S. attorney appointment process. He said he expects an appointment by late February or early March.
