A Lubbock lawyer is now a judge.
Mark Hocker took the oath of office Wednesday for County Court at Law Number One. He bested 15 other applicants for the appointment by County Commissioners. He and three of the other contenders have filed to run for the seat in the April Republican primary.
Judge Hocker says keeping the court docket moving is his first priority.
"Get on top of the settings that are already there, make sure that justice continues. We have a full calendar set for January. We will honor all of those settings and keep them moving and then we will start creating our own settings and doing things our way in February," he said.
Judge hocker succeeds Judge Rusty Ladd who died in September from injuries sustained in a traffic crash.
