Gov. Butch Otter has appointed Gene Petty, a veteran Ada County deputy prosecutor, to be a 3^rd District Court judge, replacing longtime Judge Juneal Kerrick, who recently retired. Petty has been with the civil division of the Ada County prosecuting attorney’s office since 2003.

Otter chose Petty from among four finalists selected by the Idaho Judicial Council.

“The people who work most closely with Gene have the most praise for his professionalism, fairness, decision making and disposition,” Otter said in a news release. “That speaks well for his capacity to successfully tackle the diverse legal issues he will face as a district judge. Local leaders supporting his candidacy also cited Gene’s integrity, empathy, impartiality and humility as qualities that will serve him well on the Canyon County bench, and I agree.”

Petty holds a bachelor’s degree from California State University-San Marcos and a law degree from Loyola University Chicago.