(AP) — A Kearney lawyer has been selected to fill a county court judgeship opening in the 9th Judicial District of south-central Nebraska.

The office of Gov. Dave Heineman on Tuesday announced the appointment of 43-year-old John Rademacher.

Rademacher is a partner with Tye & Rademacher in Kearney. From 1996 until 2005 he served as deputy public defender in the Buffalo County Public Defender’s Office. Rademacher obtained his law degree from the law school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The vacancy was created by the retirement of Judge Graten Beavers. The district consists of Buffalo and Hall counties.