COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A prominent state lawmaker has been sworn in as the new U.S. Attorney for South Carolina, according to federal officials.

Attorney General William Barr said that Peter McCoy had been sworn in on Monday as the state’s interim top federal prosecutor. He takes over from Sherri Lydon, who was selected to be a federal judge last year.

President Donald Trump nominated McCoy in February. In the role, McCoy will supervise an office of about 60 prosecutors, and nearly 100 other staff.

The 41-year-old Charleston Republican was elected to the House in 2010 and had been chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, well respected by Republicans and Democrats at the South Carolina House.

McCoy was a prosecutor before founding his current law firm. In a statement, McCoy said he was honored to serve in the post and looked forward to getting to work.