Gov. Kenny Guinn announced Tuesday the appointment of Timothy Craig Williams of Henderson to replace Judge John McGroarty on the Clark County District Court.
McGroarty retired at the beginning of this year. Williams will fill the post until the end of this year. If he wants to stay in the position, he must run for the office in this year's election.
Williams, 50, was one of three finalists selected for the post by the Commission on Judicial Selection.
Guinn described him as having great legal credentials and an excellent reputation as a lawyer. He has already overseen some 800 cases as a district judge pro-tempore and as a private arbitrator and mediator.
Guinn is still considering appointments for the Washoe County seat vacated by Peter Breen and the Churchill-Lyon seat vacated by Archie Blake.
The three nominees to replace Breen are: Patrick Flanigan, 53, of the Hale Lane law firm in Reno; Jenny Hubach, 40, a private practitioner in Reno; and Bridget Robb Peck, 43, a partner in Beesley, Peck and Matteoni of Reno.
The three nominees to replace Blake are: Leon Aberasturi, 39, of Fernley, Lyon County district attorney; Kevin Pasquale, 50, of Fallon, with the firm of Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney;.and Wayne A. Pederson, 52, of Yerington, in private practice.
Guinn has no deadline for selecting the two judges but if he fails to do so within 30 days, state law bars him from making any other appointments until the judges are named. Whoever is selected will have to run for election this year to keep the position.