kelley hodge will that spend five and a half months serving as interim d.a. completing the term of seth williams who resigned amid a federal bribery conviction. "action news" reporter vernon odom has more on the city's first african-american female district attorney. >> congratulations. [cheers and applause] >> reporter: former assistant d.a. kelley hodge is now philadelphia's 25th district attorney. the first african-american female. with family and colleagues packing a city hall courtroom she vowed to restore confidence in the d.a.'s office in the wake of the scandal that surrounded exd.a. seth williams. she spoke directly to the people of philadelphia. >> the citizens of this city deserve our best as members of the district attorneys office and i hope to inspire you all to always seek to be better today than you did the day before. >> reporter: among those beaming in the audience hodge's parents and husband. she gru up in montgomery county and first told her father she wanted to be a lawyer when she was only 10. >> she's very humble with everything that sh

kelley hodge became philadelphia's 25th district attorney. chosen by the court of common pleas board of judges. there were 14 candidates trying to get the nod to succeed seth williams who is now in federal custody waiting sentencing after pleading guilty to corruption last month. hodge's husband son and parents were beaming with pride when she was sworn in a packed city hall courtroom many of the d.a.'s office. >> for the time i have to lead this office i will promote and encourage the honor integrity and professionalism that is expected and that exists in each of you. >> reporter: kelley hodge made her own history today. she's the town's first black female d.a. today her former colleagues came out in big numbers to hail her elevation even though it is only temporary. she'll be serving out the remainder of seth williams second term which ends early in the new year. he's highly respected by her former colleagues. >> she's measured, she's calm, she's thoughtful. she's a leader. she's inspiring. i could not be happier with the board of judges' c

kelley hodge first african-american woman to serve as top prosecutor.th williams the family wants the new interim da to bring charges against the person who shot her and her boyfriend. happened on july 16. the couple got into an argument with the neighbor who we're not identifying because he has not been charged. he told police he felt threatened when they started climbing his fence during that argument. he grabbed his gun, shot the couple and then called police. nothing has happened since. the da seat has been open since seth williams resigned as part of a plea deal on federal bribery charges last month. the family of both victims are now hinging their hopes on kelley hodge who will be sworn in today at noon. that swearing in is open to the public. reporting live outside of city hall, pamela osborne, nbc 10 news. >>> 6:35. new from overnight, american red cross helping people driven out of their apartment building by a fire on 52nd street. the fire at the park side apartments broke out just before midnight. crews put it out quickly. no one was hurt. >>

the board of judges selected kelley hodge to fill the rest of the term of former d.a.h williams, who, as you know, resigned after his corruption conviction. hodge will be the first african-american woman to serve as the city's d.a. when she is sworn in. here's my question -- and hodge is supremely qualified. i don't think there's any doubt about that. but kathleen martin, who recused herself from being in the mix here, has basically been running this office for several months. why not, nelson, just keep her on the job until january, which is not too far away? >> well, it's because of the state requirement that the board of judges has the obligation whenever there's a vacancy to appoint someone. >> so why wouldn't they appoint martin? >> she decided to level herself out. >> let's pretend that she knew she wasn't gonna win. >> well, i think that it was a glass ceiling to be broken, and so we have an african-american woman. we have now, what i call the judicial council, which is known as the clifford scott green judicial council, which is made up of at least 30 african-am

kelley hodge will spend five and a half months serving as interim d.a. completing the term of seth williams who resigned in federal bribe bee conviction. the 45-year-old hodge was elected to fill that office by the board of common pleas court judges. today she called it a profound honor to become philadelphia's first african-american female d.a. >> the gravity and impact of this moment is not lost on me as i address you. my race and my gender are what i proudly. but my experience and intellect are what i have what e enabled me top stand here. >> hodge announced her abbreviated term will be a restoration period for the d.a.'s office. voters will choose the next permanent d.a. in november. >> all right. football fans rejoice it's that time of the summer where the eagles take to the field again. training camp began today with the season just around the corner. "action news" sports director ducis rodgers in the middle of it. he's live at the novacare facility and ducis how did they look this morning? >> reporter: so far so good but we won't real know until t