CLINTON COUNTY — The recently elected state’s attorney in Clinton County will be leaving the office for the bench.

Clinton County State’s Attorney Douglas Gruenke has been appointed as an Associate Judge for the Fourth Judicial Circuit.

Gruenke is tentatively scheduled to start his judicial career on March 26th. His seat in the state’s attorney’s office will be filled when the Clinton County Board votes on a replacement on March 15th.

Gruenke, who lives in New Baden, and was the attorney for the City of Centralia before being elected Clinton County State’s Attorney.

Appellate judges are selected by the circuit judges in the circuit. Wednesday was the final day for the circuit judges to submit their votes in the contested election to replace James Eder of Effingham who retired in December.