Gov. Rick Perry appointed two judges Oct. 7 to fill Williamson County judicial district positions.
Perry appointed Stacey Mathews of Austin as judge of the 277th Judicial District and Rick Kennon as judge of the 368th Judicial District. Kennon's and Mathews' terms will run through the next general election in Fall 2014.
Mathews is an Austin resident who presently serves as an assistant district attorney in the Williamson County District Attorney's Office. Prior to coming to Williamson County, Mathews served as an assistant district attorney in the Harris County District Attorney's Office. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Colorado and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.
Mathews takes over the judge's seat formerly held by Ken Anderson, who resigned the position Sept. 23 following allegations of misconduct for a murder case he prosecuted in the 1980s. Anderson had presided over the 277th Judicial District since 2002.
Kennon will take over as judge of the 368th District on Oct. 31 following the resignation of current judge Burt Carnes. Carnes announced in September that he would vacate the position with a year remaining in his term.
A Round Rock resident, Kennon currently runs a private law practice. His former experience includes serving as an assistant attorney for the Travis County District Attorney's Office and as an assistant attorney general for the Texas Attorney General's Office. Kennon received a bachelor's degree from Baylor University and a law degree from the Texas Tech University School of Law.
"I believe that my 29 years experience as both a prosecutor and defense attorney in criminal, civil and family law matters has given me the acumen to now be able to give back to the community," Kennon said. "I am proud to call Williamson County home and look forward to being able to serve its citizens."