photo by: Mackenzie Clark/Journal-World File Photo

In this Journal-World photo from Oct. 1, 2019, Douglas County District Court Judge James McCabria asks a defendant a question during trial.

The Kansas Supreme Court has selected Judge James McCabria as Douglas County District Court’s next chief judge, effective Jan. 1.

McCabria will fill the role that current Chief Judge Peggy Carr Kittel will vacate with her retirement Dec. 31, according to a news release from the state Office of Judicial Administration.

“The 7th Judicial District is fortunate to have judges that serve with incredible dedication,” McCabria said in the release. “Chief Judge Kittel has done an outstanding job of continuing a tradition of excellent leadership for our district. That I have been selected by the Supreme Court to carry that tradition forward is a most humbling honor.”

In addition to their own judicial responsibilities, chief judges have “general control over case assignments within the district, as well as general supervisory authority over the administrative and clerical functions of the court,” according to the news release.

McCabria served as an assistant Douglas County district attorney from 2006 until former Gov. Sam Brownback appointed him district judge in 2014, the Journal-World previously reported.

McCabria graduated from the University of Tulsa School of Law in 1994, and he holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal science from Ohio State University, the Journal-World has reported. He worked in private practice in Coffeyville beginning in 1994, started his own law office in Douglas County in 2000 and then served as an assistant Kansas attorney general from 2001 to 2006, according to the release.

“We are glad that Judge McCabria has agreed to serve as chief judge, providing continuity in capable leadership in the 7th Judicial District,” Lawton Nuss, chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court, said in the news release.

McCabria’s appointment is effective from Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2021, according to the release.

Gov. Laura Kelly has 60 days from Friday to select from three nominees for the judge position that Kittel will vacate at the end of the year. Kittel is the second judge to announce her retirement from Douglas County District Court this year; Judge Mark Simpson was appointed after the June retirement of Judge Paula Martin.