EBENSBURG - A veteran prosecutor will become Cambria County's first female district attorney in January.

When current District Attorney Patrick Kiniry becomes a Cambria County judge Jan. 4, full-time assistant prosecutor Kelly Callihan will take his place.

As the office's new first assistant DA, Callihan will become district attorney under Pennsylvania law when Kiniry leaves office in the middle of his DA term. She becomes the office's first assistant DA today.

"I can attest to her temperament, organizational ability and trial skills and am confident she'll be a fine replacement for me," Kiniry said Thursday.

Kiniry took a similar route to becoming DA, serving as a longtime first assistant until 2005 when he was appointed DA after David Tulowitski became a Cambria County judge.

When Callihan takes over as DA, it will mark a two-part historic moment in the county. The same day, Linda Fleming will become the county's first female judge.

Callihan, who turns 41 today, has been a full-time prosecutor in the office since 1996.

The Westmont native has prosecuted a long list of notable criminal cases, including double murderer Nathan Fortson, who is serving life sentences for his 2007 pleas to killings in Cambria Township and Huntingdon.

"I'm ready and prepared to do this job and I will continue to be tough on crime - continue to take drug dealers off the street and continue our effort to steer youth away from drugs and alcohol," Callihan said.

During her years as a prosecutor, Callihan has developed and implemented a countywide alcohol awareness program focusing on underage drinking and safe driving. She said the program evolved after seeing stats on binge drinking and teenage driving accidents.

"Over 85 percent of the cases we handle involve drugs and alcohol. Punishment is a big part of the picture, but we also must be proactive in prevention and rehab," she said.

Chief Public Defender Lisa L. Lazzari said Thursday that she has no doubt Callihan will have no trouble making the shift.

"Kelly is a well-prepared trial attorney," said Lazzari, who said she's tried numerous cases opposite Callihan. "And from my perspective, she isn't black and white - she can look at a case and the individual particular facts and treat the defendant according to that situation. That's important."

The top post was First Assistant Heath Long's to take but Long declined it last week, citing private practice and family obligations.

Callihan said she'll make Long her first assistant, noting the pair came in to the office together in the mid-1990s and have a strong working relationship.

A Penn State and Dickinson School of Law graduate, Callihan worked as a law clerk for President Judge Gerard Long until joining the DA's office

A married mother of two, Callihan comes from a family with a long legal background. Three siblings are fellow attorneys, including two local attorneys, brother Art McQuillan, and sister Maureen.

Mirror Staff Writer David Hurst is at 946-7457.