WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama, soon to be the nation's first black president, tapped Washington lawyer Eric Holder on Monday to become the nation's first black attorney general.

If confirmed, Holder will inherit a Justice Department that has been beset by controversy and low morale. In introducing Holder on Monday, Obama sought a break from the long shadow of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who was criticized for politicizing hiring decisions and acting too closely in concert with the White House.

"Let me be clear," Obama said at a Chicago news conference. "The attorney general serves the American people. And I have every expectation that Eric will protect our people, uphold the public trust, and adhere to our Constitution."

Holder, 57, has served at nearly every level of the Justice Department. He worked on the department's corruption squad, served as the U.S. attorney in Washington and was Janet Reno's top deputy during the Clinton administration. President Reagan also appointed him a Superior Court judge.

Since leaving government service, Holder has worked at Covington & Burling, one of the nation's top law firms. He helped lead the team that selected Sen. Joe Biden as Obama's running mate.

Though widely respected by lawyers in and out of government, Holder is expected to face tough questioning in the Senate about his role in the 2001 pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich.

On the last day of Clinton's term, Holder told the White House he was "neutral, leaning toward favorable" regarding a presidential pardon for Rich, who had spent years running from tax charges. Rich's ex-wife, Denise, was a prominent Democratic Party donor.

The pardon provoked protests and a congressional investigation. Holder later publicly apologized for what he called a snap decision and said he would have advised against it had he paid more attention to the case.

Before selecting Holder, Obama advisers questioned Senate Republicans about whether the Rich issue would prevent his confirmation. The transition team received some assurances that, while the pardon would certainly surface during Judiciary Committee hearings, that alone was unlikely to hold up his confirmation.