Before Douglas County District Judge Jean Shepherd retires in January, she will sit with the Kansas Supreme Court and hear an appeal in a criminal case.

The state Supreme Court has appointed Shepherd to sit in place of Justice Carol A. Beier, who has recused herself from the case. Shepherd will hear oral arguments on Dec. 8 and then participate in deliberations and the decision.

Shepherd has served as a Douglas County district judge since 1984 and primarily handles family law and juvenile cases.

She is the third Douglas County judge to be appointed to sit with the state Supreme Court this year. Robert Fairchild, Douglas County’s chief judge, heard a case earlier this year, and District Judge Michael Malone will sit with the court in December to hear four cases.