Gov. Jared Polis announced Thursday he has appointed a judge to fill a vacancy on the 4th Judicial Court. 

Effective Sept. 30, Jennifer A. Viehman will replace Judge David Shakes on the bench who is retiring after nearly 22 years serving the 4th District.

Viehman currently works as the chief deputy district attorney for the 4th District Attorney’s Office, according to the agency’s website. She has held the position, the third-highest rank in the office, since 2021, handling criminal prosecution cases. 

According to a news release from Polis’ office, Viehman previously worked as the senior deputy district attorney from 2011 to 2021. Before that, she served as the deputy district attorney from 2004 to 2011.

Viehman also worked as a prosecutor at the Office of the City Attorney in Colorado Springs for three years. 

According to past Gazette reporting, Viehman has handled several notable cases, including the successful prosecutions of Teller County fiancée-killer Patrick Frazee and a child-molestation case against former Colorado Springs police Officer Joshua Carrie.

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Court records show Viehman is also one of the prosecutors on the state case for Planned Parenthood shooting suspect Robert Dear. 

The Gazette reached out to the District Attorney’s Office for a statement, but did not receive an immediate response.