Johnson County Superior Court II has a new judge. Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Tuesday that Peter Douglas Nugent is his choice to succeed Judge Cynthia S. Emkes, who is retiring after 30 years on the bench.

Gov. Holcomb’s office says that Nugent has extensive experience in both the civil and criminal law arenas, serving as a deputy prosecutor as well as a public defender, in addition to his private law practice. In a statement, the governor says that Nugent also has extensive experience serving as a judge pro tempore in civil and criminal cases, including a murder trial. In addition, he has served on the Indiana Public Defender Commission and the Indiana State Ethics Commission.

Nugent will be sworn into office at a later date.