Topeka ? Gov. Sam Brownback has named Coffey County’s prosecutor to an open judge’s position on the district court for four east-central Kansas counties.

Brownback announced the appointment of Douglas Witteman on Wednesday.

Witteman, from LeRoy, is the Coffey County attorney. He will replace Franklin County District Judge Thomas Sachse, who retired in May after 23 years on the bench in the 4th Judicial District, which also includes Anderson and Osage counties.

A district nominating committee picked Witteman and Brandon Jones as finalists from among four applicants. Jones serves as county attorney in Anderson and Osage counties.

Brownback said in a statement that Witteman’s depth of legal knowledge will be an asset to the court. Witteman received his law degree from Washburn University of Topeka in 1991.