Westphal is acting U.S. Attorney in Iowa’s Southern District

DES MOINES (AP) — A current assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa has been appointed as acting U.S. Attorney in the office, federal officials announced Wednesday.

Richard Westphal will serve in that position until Nov. 16, or until the new administration of President Joe Biden selects a nominee before then.

Westphal will replace Marc Krickbaum, who resigned last week.

Westphal has been an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District since June 1997.

In April 1996, he was named Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in both the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa specializing in methamphetamine prosecutions.

A native of Iowa, Westphal earned his law degree at the University of Iowa in 1990.

The Southern District holds court in Davenport, Des Moines and Council Bluffs.