New Jersey U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito, whose temporary appointment to the state's top federal law enforcement job was due to expire in early May, has had his appointment extended by the state's federal judiciary.

Carpenito was appointed to the job in early January by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, but under federal law, his term lasted 120 days. A former federal prosecutor and partner at Alston & Bird in New York, Carpenito had been considered the front-runner for the post of U.S. attorney, but a formal nomination from the White House has not been forthcoming.

If an appointment for U.S. attorney by the attorney general expires, the U.S. District Court for the district may make an appointment to fill the position “until the vacancy is filled,” under 28 U.S.C. §546.

“Chief Judge Jose L. Linares notified me that the U.S. District Court has appointed me United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey,” Carpenito said in an April 27 statement. “I would like to thank the Chief Judge and the Court for the tremendous honor they have bestowed on me with this appointment.

“It is a great privilege for me to return to my roots as a federal prosecutor in New Jersey. Working side by side with the men and women of this great office, we will continue the tradition of fairly and vigilantly pursuing justice in service of the people of New Jersey and the United States,” Carpenito said.

Carpenito took the position of U.S. attorney in January as acting U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick was reaching a 300-day statutory limit on his service in that capacity. Fitzpatrick took the post after U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, an appointee of President Barack Obama, was one of 46 U.S. attorneys who were abruptly asked by Sessions to resign in March 2017. Fishman did submit his resignation on that request.

The New Jersey U.S. District Court's move comes two days after the Southern District of New York federal bench extended the tenure of Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman indefinitely.