Governor Bill Ritter appointed a new El Paso County Judge Thursday. Marla Rochelle Prudek of Colorado Springs was named to the position.

Prudek is currently a partner at Gentry and Prudek, LLP, a position she has held since January 2005 She practices general and civil defense with an emphasis in sexual offenses, child abuse, domestic violence and homicide. From 1987 to 1989 Prudek served as the deputy district attorney for El Paso County. Prior to that she was an assistant attorney general in the state of Washington from 1986 to 1987.

Prudek earned her B.A. from Carroll College in 1982 and her J.D. from University of Puget Sound School of Law in 1985.

Effective immediately, Prudek will fill a vacancy being left by a retiring judge, the Hon. James S. Patterson.

Prudek's initial term of office is a provisional term of two years and then until the second Tuesday in January following the next general election. After that, if voters re-elect her, the term for a county court judge is four years.

The current annual salary for this position is $123,067.