New District Court Judge Peggy Carr Kittel, center, was sworn in Wednesday in the Division VI courtroom of the Douglas County District Court as, from left, her husband, Rick, and son, Jim, 13, watch. District Judge Robert Fairchild administered the oath.

Saying she hopes to stay with the position until she retires, Peggy Carr Kittel took the oath of office Wednesday morning and became the county’s newest district judge.

“It’s really my final career goal, so it feels real good to have achieved it,” Kittel said.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on March 31 selected Kittel to replace Stephen Six, who became Kansas attorney general in January. Both Kittel and Six are Lawrence residents and Kansas University graduates.

Kittel had served as judge pro tem here since 2001, and before she worked as a prosecutor in Douglas County and Wyandotte County. She also worked in private practice for the Lawrence law firm Allen, Cooley & Allen, now Gilliland & Hayes.

Now her jurisdiction expands, as Kittel will preside in the Division VI courtroom, including for jury trials. During her speech in the packed courtroom, Kittel recognized the work of several court agencies and staffers.

“There’s just a huge group of people that are very dedicated, and I think often their work goes unrecognized,” she said.

Kittel also thanked the Douglas County Commission for funding the pro tem position and paying for recent courtroom renovations.

Six, who attended the ceremony, said Kittel’s experience as a lawyer and pro tem judge will allow her to hit the ground running as a district judge.

“It’s just an exciting day for the county to get another really high-qualified judge. We have a terrific bench here in Douglas County, and getting her as an addition to that group is a great thing,” he said.

As District Judge Robert Fairchild administered the oath of office, Kittel’s husband, Rick, and her son, Jim, 13, joined her at the front of the courtroom. Several other family members, including her parents, Joe and Marianne Carr, of Lenexa, attended the ceremony with about 100 other people, mostly from Douglas County’s legal community, including retired judges.