Paul Warner, who has been U.S. attorney for Utah for the past 7 1/2 years, announced Wednesday that he is resigning. While the official news release did not give a reason, the prosecutor joked that it's "the worst kept secret in America" that he is the finalist for a newly created position on the bench.

His last day as U.S. attorney will be Friday. The new job will be official when a standard background investigation of Warner is officially completed in early February. Barring any glitches, he is expected to take the spot on the bench later that month, becoming the fourth full-time federal magistrate in Utah.

After Wednesday's announcement, dozens of officials and colleagues gathered to express their gratitude to Warner, who is the longest-serving current U.S. attorney in the nation.

At a reception held at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Salt Lake City, prosecutors, police, community advocates and defense attorneys praised Warner for his fairness, integrity, legal talent, support of law enforcement and willingness to work with other agencies.

"While he's discharged his duties, he never forgot local law enforcement," Layton police Chief Terry Keefe said.

Warner first was appointed by President Clinton in 1998, then reappointed by President Bush in 2003. He served almost two years as chairman of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

During his tenure, Warner undertook several initiatives, including the anti-gun violence Project Safe Neighborhoods; the Utah Identity Theft Task Force; and Weed and Seed, a community-based program to prevent violent crime and drug abuse.

Under his direction in 2003, a federal grand jury was convened to probe what happened to Kiplyn Davis, a teenager who disappeared in May 1995 and is presumed dead. Grand jurors issued perjury indictments last year against five men for allegedly lying to investigators, and earlier this month the Utah County Attorney's Office charged one of the defendants with murdering Kiplyn.

Two of his fellow U.S. attorneys, Tom Moss of Idaho and Mary Beth Buchanan of western Pennsylvania, described Warner as a mentor. "He's a great leader, he's a brilliant legal mind but, most of all, he's a great person," Moss said.

Buchanan, who succeeded Warner as head of the advisory committee, agreed. "He was a true leader to the U.S. attorneys community and a friend," she said.

Mark Hirata, an assistant U.S. attorney, described his boss as a "prosecutor's prosecutor" who always tries to do the right thing. "He just has such a keen sense of fairness and justice," Hirata said.

Ralph Dewsnup, deputy commander of the joint force headquarters of the Utah National Guard, noted that he and Warner went to East High School in Salt Lake City and Brigham Young University law school together. His friend gets along equally well with both subordinates and superiors, he said.

"On a light note, I knew him before he was distinguished," Dewsnup said.

Richard MacDougall of the Federal Defenders Office also is a former classmate, from junior high school. He thanked Warner for establishing a collegial atmosphere between prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Warner said he is looking forward to his new opportunity, but will miss his old job and his co-workers.

"You learn to love those you serve," he said. "You also learn to love those you serve with."

pmanson@sltrib.com

jbergreen@sltrib.com

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Tribune reporter Stephen Hunt contributed to this report.

What's next?

* The replacement for U.S. Attorney for Utah Paul Warner, who announced his resignation Wednesday, will start with a nomination by President Bush.

* The nominee then must be confirmed by a majority vote of the U.S. Senate.

* In the past, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch - a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee - has been influential in deciding who is nominated.

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U.S. Attorney for Utah Paul M. Warner

* Age: 56.

* Appointed as U.S. attorney: 1998, by President Clinton, retained by President Bush.

Accomplishments:

* Project Safe Neighborhoods, an anti-gun violence initiative that has led to nearly 1,600 indictments and has been recognized by the U.S. Attorney General.

* Obtained 150 indictments for the Utah Identity Theft Task Force.

* Prosecuted more than 2,200 people in immigration cases, chiefly those who committed crimes while in the country illegally.

* Led the criminal justice and court response to the demands of the 2002 Winter Games.

* Oversaw the office's growth from 30 prosecutors to 42. Financial crimes prosecutors collected $6.5 million in judgments in fiscal year 2005.