The nation's longest current serving U.S. attorney is calling it quits.

U.S. Attorney for Utah Paul Warner said he is stepping down after serving 7 1/2 years, through two presidential administrations — one Democrat and one Republican — and under three U.S. attorneys general.

Warner was first appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1998 and was retained by President George W. Bush in 2003.

"Paul Warner has been an outstanding United States Attorney for Utah, and he has also been a leader in the national law enforcement community," said Paul McNulty, acting deputy attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice.

"Throughout his many years of service within the criminal justice system, Paul has established himself as an effective leader in the fight against crime," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, on Wednesday, adding he felt Warner's most impressive qualities have been his "integrity and honesty."

On Wednesday, representatives from more than 25 state and federal law enforcement agencies gathered to honor Warner's work as U.S. attorney.

Salt Lake Police Chief Rick Dinse said Warner has been a great partner with the citizens of Salt Lake City.

Warner is known for his dedication to going after convicted felons found in possession of guns under the national Project Safe Neighborhood, which has resulted in hundreds of indictments and thousands of weapons being removed from the streets. He is also known for pushing for prosecution on identity theft and crimes connected with illegal immigrants.

The past few years, Warner was praised for calling a grand jury investigation into the disappearance of 15-year-old Kiplyn Davis, which recently led to several indictments and possible breaks in the case.

Even legal opponents had praise for Warner. "I think very highly of Paul as a prosecutor and as a person," said University of Utah law professor Erik Luna. Luna has found himself against Warner on the debate over minimum-mandatory sentences. The attorneys argued against each other over the case of Weldon Angelos, a 26-year-old given a 55-year mandatory sentence for selling drugs to an undercover officer in possession of a firearm. The case could be bound for the U.S. Supreme Court.

"Although I have not always agreed with the decisions made by the U.S. Attorney's Office, I have always respected Paul and his leadership of federal law enforcement in Utah," Luna said, adding he hopes Warner's replacement will be of the same high-caliber character. Luna said Utah has had a string of distinguished U.S. attorneys, including the current dean of the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the U., Scott Matheson Jr.

The decision of who will replace Warner will rest with President Bush and the selection process may take several months. Traditionally, the assistant U.S. attorney, who in Utah is Steve Sorensen, becomes acting U.S. attorney, but that has not been yet confirmed, said U.S. attorney spokeswoman Melodie Rydalch.

Officials with Hatch's office have said the senator has been active in finding qualified candidates for Warner's replacement.

Warner plans to go on to be appointed as a federal magistrate judge in Salt Lake City. That appointment is being made by chief U.S. District Judge Dee Benson. Although the official announcement of Warner's new appointment has yet to be made, several sources have told the Deseret Morning News that the decision has been made and is pending a background check.

Warner's last day is Friday, when he plans to speak publicly about his resignation.

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