Topeka ? A trial court judge in Salina has been promoted to chief judge for two counties in north-central Kansas.

The Kansas Supreme Court has appointed District Judge Jerome Hellmer and says he’ll start his new duties Jan. 10. That’s when Chief Judge Daniel Hebert retires from the bench in the 28th Judicial District. The district is Ottawa and Saline counties.

Hellmer has been a district court judge since 1996. Before that, he practice law in Salina for 22 years.

Gov. Mark Parkinson already has appointed Salina attorney Jared Johnson to fill the judgeship Hebert is giving up.