The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah has picked a local attorney to be its new executive director.

Karen McCreary will take over the ACLU of Utah from Dani Eyer, who is stepping down after five years on the job. Eyer said she walked into the ACLU offices just after Sept. 11, 2001, with concerns about the erosion of civil liberties in a post-9/11 world, offering her time and expertise as a lawyer. She made it clear that she would only stay five years.

"It's an intense and challenging and satisfying job, but at some point you need to move on," Eyer said Monday.

Under Eyer's direction, the ACLU of Utah was involved in a number of civil rights battles, including the lawsuits over the Main Street Plaza in downtown Salt Lake City. She also testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the Patriot Act.

Still, Eyer said it was the day-to-day civil liberties struggles that stand out among her accomplishments.

"Our job is to consistently protect and defend civil liberties every day in the state of Utah. That takes many different forms," she said.

McCreary said she hopes to continue that work.

"I'm excited to be here," McCreary told the Deseret Morning News on Monday. "It's an honor, definitely. I've been really passionate about civil liberties."

McCreary has been general counsel for the University of Utah and Western Governor's University, as well as a lawyer in private practice.