Kellie Johnson has been appointed to the Pima County Superior Court by Gov. Doug Ducey

She is chief criminal deputy of the Pima County Attorney’s Office and brings over 20 years of experience to her new post, according to an announcement.

In addition to prosecuting cases, including homicide, domestic violence, narcotics and property crime, Johnson also serves as a part-time professor of practice at University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. Johnson is on the Arizona Supreme Court Capital Case Oversight Committee and the Criminal Rules Task Force and is the president of the Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation.

"Her years of criminal law and trial experience make her an excellent addition to the judiciary.  I am pleased to appoint Kellie Johnson to the Pima County Superior Court," Ducey said in the announcement.

Johnson is taking the place of Judge K.C. Stanford who recently retired.