DES MOINES -- Iowa Gov. Chet Culver appointed Grundy County Attorney Bradley J. Harris on Tuesday to serve as Northeast Iowa's next district judge.

Harris, 51, of Grundy Center, also is in private practice with firm Kliebenstein, Heronimus, Schmidt & Harris.

Harris, a Republican, has been the Grundy County attorney since 2003 and also has served as the city attorney for Grundy Center since 2004. Harris worked in the public defender's office in Waterloo from 1987 to 1995.

"His vast experience in both the public and private sectors makes him well-equipped to serve in this new capacity," Culver said in a statement. "I have no doubt that Mr. Harris' expertise will be an asset to Iowa's judicial system and the 1st District."

Harris, reached at his office Tuesday, said it has long been his career goal to become a judge. This was the third time he was a finalist for a job as district judge. He also has been a finalist twice for a position as a district associate judge.

"It's a grueling process you go through," Harris said. "There were a lot of good applicants."

Harris will fill a vacancy left by the retirement of District Judge K.D. Briner earlier this year. He is uncertain when his new job will begin.

Dean Olson, the retired chief public defender in Waterloo, worked with Harris for several years and described him as well-rounded and easygoing.

"I always thought he was a tremendous trial lawyer, which should translate into a good trial judge," Olson said.

Harris will serve as a judge in District 1B, which includes Black Hawk, Buchanan, Chickasaw, Fayette, Grundy and Howard counties.

Harris, who lives in Grundy Center, is married and has two children.

He grew up in Des Moines and received his bachelor's degree in economics from Loras College in 1976. He went on to earn his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1980.

The Judicial Nominating Commission for the district forwarded two candidates to Culver for consideration from a pool of 14 candidates. The other finalist for the job was Richard Stochl, 43, a lawyer in private practice from New Hampton.

Contact Charlotte Eby at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.