ounty attorney chosen as judge

Gov. Sam Brownback has appointed a Bourbon County prosecutor to a judgeship on a district court in eastern Kansas.

Brownback announced Thursday that the new judge is Terri Johnson of Fort Scott. She is the Bourbon County attorney and also serves as the county's lawyer in civil-court matters.

Brownback said her mix of legal experience makes her well-prepared to be a judge. Both he and the new judge are Republicans.

She's filling a position on the bench in the Sixth Judicial District of Bourbon, Linn and Miami counties that will become vacant when Chief Judge Richard Smith of Mound City retires next month.

Smith recently sat with the Kansas Supreme Court as it reviewed a case involving Attorney General Derek Schmidt's attempt to defend the state's ban on gay marriage.

Johnson is the second person to be chosen as a judge from the Bourbon County Attorney's Office this year.

On Sept. 26, Valorie LeBlanc, who had served as the assistant county attorney, was sworn in as a magistrate judge. She replaced Rebecca R. Stephan, who had earlier retired.