Gov. Brad Henry has appointed Pottawatomie County Presiding District Judge Douglas L. Combs to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

He will replace Justice Rudolph Hargrave, who will retire Dec. 31.

Judge Combs is a Shawnee native who earned his juris doctorate from Oklahoma City University in 1976. He has served as district judge for Pottawatomie County since 2003. He previously served as a special judge in Pottawatomie County from 1995 through 2003 and was in private practice prior to that.

“Judge Combs has the temperament, intellect and experience to be an outstanding Supreme Court justice,” Gov. Henry said. “He has a long history of public service and I know he will perform his new duties with the greatest professionalism, integrity and sense of duty to the citizens of our state.”