Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday appointed the first Black Montgomery County district attorney when she named Azzie Oliver, a fixture in the DA’s office for nearly 25 years, to the post.

Oliver, who had been chief deputy district attorney prior to her appointment, held several roles in the office since 1998.

Her appointment took effect immediately, succeeding Daryl Bailey, who retired earlier this month after three decades.

“I express my deep gratitude to Gov. Ivey for placing her trust in me to serve as Montgomery County District Attorney,” Oliver said in a statement issued by the DA’s office. “I consider this appointment a blessing and an honor. I consider the ability to serve our community an honor. I have spent most of my career serving Montgomery County and am committed to leading the office in fighting for victims and making the Capital City safer for all citizens.”

In a statement, Ivey explained why she appointed Oliver to the job.

“Ensuring we have a safe Alabama begins with having a safe Capital City, so having our local officials embody that goal is critical. Azzie Oliver has dedicated most of her career to upholding the criminal laws of Alabama and by pursuing justice for the people of Montgomery County, so I am confident she will help us create a safer Montgomery,” the governor said. “Azzie has protected victims of crimes and prosecuted criminals, so she has become well respected by many from law enforcement officials to prosecutors. I look forward to working with her as our Capital City’s district attorney.”

Oliver first began her career in the DA’s office as a part-time administrative assistant 1998 while getting her criminal justice degree as a senior at Alabama State University.

She went on to pursue her juris doctorate degree at the Faulkner University Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, graduating in 2003.

While in law school, Oliver was promoted to victim service officer in the Violence Against Women Unit (VAWU.) After passing the Alabama State Bar, she was promoted to deputy district attorney, where she was assigned to prosecute various cases for the office.

Later that year, she was named senior prosecutor of the VAWU.

After a brief departure from the office to work for Legal Services of Alabama, Oliver returned to the DA’s office in 2013, where she was named chief of the Violent Crimes Unit.

In 2014, she was sworn-in as chief deputy district attorney.

Oliver left in August 2016 to serve in roles with the Alabama District Attorneys Association and in the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, where she was appointed chief deputy of the Criminal Trials Division.

In 2020, Oliver returned to the DA’s office as chief deputy district attorney.