Topeka ? This city has a new municipal judge, a former assistant Shawnee County district attorney who prosecuted sex crimes.

Cheryl Rios Kingfisher was sworn in Tuesday during a private ceremony.

She replaces Deborah Purce, who was fired in July by the city’s chief municipal judge, Steve Ebberts.

Purce had argued she was fired because she is black and because the police didn’t like some of her rulings. Ebberts said she was fired for violating policies against inappropriate use of the city’s e-mail system and continuing a private law practice while on the bench.

Ebberts appointed Kingfisher to the $72,000-a-year job.