Gov. Butch Otter has named Twin Falls attorney Ben Cluff to the 5th District judgeship that was left vacant by Judge Richard Bevan’s appointment to the Idaho Supreme Court.

An attorney in private practice in Twin Falls, Cluff holds a law degree from the University of Idaho and a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University.

Eight people applied for the opening, including two sitting magistrate judges. Cluff was selected from among four finalists nominated by the Idaho Judicial Council; the other three finalists were Samuel Beus, Twin Falls senior deputy public defender; Calvin Campbell 5th District magistrate judge; and Rosemary Emory, chief civil deputy prosecuting attorney for Twin Falls County.

“I was pleased to have a highly qualified slate of candidates forwarded by the Judicial Council for this position,” Otter said in a statement. “Justice Bevan leaves big shoes to fill in the Fifth Judicial District. But the Magic Valley also has a history of producing some of Idaho’s finest jurists, so I’m confident that Ben Cluff will perform at a high level on the bench.”