New 6th Judicial District associate judge appointed

Assistant Johnson County Attorney Deborah Minot was appointed Thursday as the new 6th Judicial District associate judge who will preside over juvenile and misdemeanor cases in Johnson County.

Minot, who started out as a juvenile prosecutor with Johnson County in 1991 and then became an assistant county attorney in 2005, replaces District Associate Judge Sylvia Lewis who retired in January after more than 27 years on the bench.

Lewis took on senior judge status after retirement so she could stay on the bench to help the district.

Chief District Judge Patrick Grady said 60 percent of the cases district associate judges handle in Johnson County involve juveniles.

“It's a relief to fill this position,” Grady said Thursday. “This (judgeship) was the highest priority because of the size of the docket and because it involves juvenile court cases.”

Grady said Minot is an “extremely intelligent hard working person and she will work very hard at being fair.”

Grady said he just found the judgeship left vacant after former Chief Judge David Remley retired in September last year can also be filled and that process will start soon.

The other vacancy left by Judge Kristin Hibbs who retired in January will remain open for now. Hibbs remains with the district as a senior judge.

Grady said Minot will take the bench sometime in May.

Minot couldn't be reached Thursday.

Minot was nominated for the judgeship by the six member Judicial Nominating Commission comprised of one judge, two lawyers and three citizens. Three finalists are chosen by the commission and then are interviewed by all the district judges who make the appointment.

District associate judge's salaries are $122,400 a year