In a 6-0 vote, lawyer Michael Darnell was chosen to fill Thomas' at-large seat until a permanent councilman is elected, Kate Schneiderman, a spokeswoman for council President Arnie Fielkow, said. A special election is scheduled for Oct. 20, and Darnell is not allowed to run in it.

Darnell didn't immediately return a message left at his law office Wednesday morning. A swearing-in ceremony is set for Thursday morning before the council's regular monthly meeting.

Thomas was widely considered a successor to Mayor Ray Nagin, and after his abrupt resignation and plea last week, Fielkow said the council, which had 30 days to make an appointment, would move quickly to fill the seat.

Darnell represents Entergy New Orleans customers who have filed separate lawsuits against the utility, which the city council regulates. But the (New Orleans) Times-Picayune, citing "City Hall sources," said most councilmembers were satisfied with Darnell agreeing to recuse himself from utility-related matters during his time on the board.

Darnell, a Yale University graduate, has been in private practice since 1982, according to a bio released by the state Supreme Court when he was appointed a temporary Orleans Parish Juvenile Court judge in 2004. His resume also includes teaching public health law at Dillard University and serving as a deputy city attorney for the city of New Orleans.

He currently practices law at a firm with state Sen. Edwin Murray, D-New Orleans.

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Information from: The Times-Picayune, http://www.timespicayune.com

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