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RALEIGH -- It has been a rocky month for the State Bureau of Investigation, after a scathing report showed problems within the crime lab. Now, Attorney General Roy Cooper has announced an interim leader to head the troubled department, former NC Court of Appeals Chief Judge Gerald Arnold.

In addition to watching over the day to day activities of the lab, Arnold will also head review all lab sections. “To determine if any of the problems regarding lab reports and lab bench notes that we found in the old serology section have been occurring in other sections,” explained Cooper.

Meanwhile, a group of prosecutors, defense attorneys and others gathered on the SBI campus Wednesday afternoon to discuss how to find the right person to lead the state's troubled crime lab and what qualifications they should have.

“Strong science foundation, excellent management skills, someone who can manage 170 scientists in the lab,” suggested SBI director Greg McLeod.

In the meantime, Cooper says more work is being done to help restore public confidence in the lab. This includes a continued suspension of blood stain analysis at the lab, requesting an audit of the DNA casework in lab by the FBI and asking the FBI and ATF to review firearms and tool mark sections to see if methods and analysis are appropriate.

“Its critical that the public have confidence in the justice system,” says defense attorney and advisory team member Joe Cheshire, “and its critical that whenever anything happens in the court, that we know its right. Or at least as right as human beings can get it.”