Jun.21, 2010, 11:30 PM

A Springfield attorney is among four people recommended by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin as possible choices to become a federal judge in the Peoria area.

The final choice will be made by President Barack Obama.

Gregory Harris has served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Central District of Illinois since 2001 and has prosecuted major federal crimes involving firearms, drugs, gangs, fraud, money laundering, bribery, corruption, and cybercrime, Durbin said.

The other three nominees are Colin Bruce and Sara Darrow, also assistant U.S. attorneys in the Central District; and Glenn Collier, a state 10th Circuit judge.

The recommendations are based on the work of a bipartisan screening committee, Durbin said. The person Obama selects will replace U.S. Judge Joe Billy McDade on the federal bench in Peoria.