Julie Bays as New AG Public Protection Unit Chief

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Credit State of Oklahoma-File photo

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Assistant Attorney General Julie Bays has been named the new chief of the attorney general's public protection unit.

Attorney General Scott Pruitt made the announcement Friday. Bays replaces Tom Bates, who was named first assistant attorney general in October.

The public protection unit prosecutes civil antitrust, consumer fraud and charitable trust cases. Bays has served as assistant attorney general in that unit for the past 11 years. Pruitt says Bays played a major role in last year's settlement that Oklahoma reached with major mortgage companies.

Bays lives in Norman and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma.