Cleveland County District Judge William C. Hetherington, Jr. has been appointed to the state Court of Civil Appeals, Gov. Brad Henry announced Friday.

Hetherington, 62, a Norman resident, succeeds Judge Glenn Adams, also a Norman resident, who retired last September.

“I’ve known Judge Hetherington for several years and I consider him a really good judge and very pleased the governor has appointed him,” Adams said.

Gov. Henry, in a press release Friday morning, lauded Hetherington’s experience.

  “William Hetherington has the intellect, integrity and temperament that will make him ideal for the Court of Civil Appeals,” said the Governor. “It is my pleasure to make this appointment to the bench.”

  Gov. Henry selected the 62–year-old Norman resident among three candidates whose names were submitted by the Judicial Nominating Commission.

  Hetherington has been a district judge in Oklahoma’s 21st Judicial District since 1992. Before that, he served as a special district judge and was in private practice. Hetherington graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1970 and earned his law degree from Oklahoma City University in 1979.

  He and his wife, Susie, have three children.

A governor’s spokesman said once Hetherington submits his official resignation, the state’s Juducial Nominating Commission will begin the process of finding a replacement.