Baker Affirms Appointment Of Top Bristol Prosecutor

Gov. Charlie Baker has appointed Thomas Quinn as Bristol County district attorney, putting to rest questions that had been raised in recent days about Quinn's future.

The Republican governor announced Thursday that Quinn will serve until the next election in November 2016. Quinn's office is overseeing the murder trial of former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez.

Quinn was named acting district attorney by former Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick days before Baker was inaugurated. His status was put in doubt when Baker moved to rescind all appointments made in the final 15 days of Patrick's administration.

Baker's legal counsel later indicated that Quinn's appointment was not among those rescinded.

Quinn served as first assistant district attorney under Sam Sutter, who resigned as DA after being elected mayor of Fall River.