MONTPELIER — A former Vermont assistant attorney general is going to fill a vacancy on the Federal Trade Commission.

Julie Brill spent more than 20 years leading the Vermont attorney general's consumer protection and antitrust division.

Brill left Vermont last year to become head of consumer protection and antitrust for the North Carolina Justice Department.

Vermont U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy says Brill did a masterful job defending consumer rights and protecting privacy in Vermont.

President Barack Obama nominated Brill to the FTC position last fall. Her appointment was confirmed Wednesday by the U.S. Senate.

—Staff and wire reports