Story by the Associated Press; curated by Oliver Darcy.

UPDATE: On Saturday morning, President Barack Obama officially named U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch as his pick to replace Eric Holder as the head of the Justice Department.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has chosen a federal prosecutor in New York to become the next attorney general.

The White House says in a statement that Obama intends to nominate U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch to replace Eric Holder as the head of the Justice Department.

FILE- In this June 17, 2013 file photo, Loretta Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Attorney's office in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Lynch could be on a list of contenders to replace Eric Holder as Attorney General. If selected, Lynch would make history as the first black woman to lead the Justice Department. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

The White House calls Lynch "a strong, independent prosecutor."

If Lynch is confirmed, she will be Obama's second trail-blazing pick for the post. Holder was the first black attorney general and she would be the first black woman.

STATEMENT (@WhiteHouse): Obama will announce intent to nominate Loretta Lynch as attorney general tomorrow pic.twitter.com/AHydYtYo9F

— TheBlazeNOW (@TheBlazeNOW)

November 7, 2014

Lynch is the U.S. attorney for Eastern New York, which covers Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island.

A formal announcement is planned Saturday at the White House.

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