The deputy county attorney for Hamilton and Saunders counties has been named a county judge in east-central Nebraska.

The office of Gov. Dave Heineman says he’s selected C. Jo Petersen, of Beaver Crossing, for the judgeship in the 5th Judicial District. The district consists of Boone, Butler, Colfax, Hamilton, Merrick, Nance, Platte, Polk, Saunders, Seward and York counties.

The governor’s office says Petersen also is a private practice attorney focusing on general law. She’s been deputy county attorney for Butler, Platte and Polk counties and was Seward county attorney for eight years.

Petersen replaces Judge Gerald Rouse, who worked in Seward County before retiring.