New magistrate named

| June 20, 2014 9:00 PM

COEUR d'ALENE - Coeur d'Alene City Attorney Anna Eckhart has been selected to replace Kootenai County Magistrate Judge Penny Friedlander.

The First District Magistrate Commission on Thursday announced Eckhart was appointed to fill a vacancy created by Friedlander's retirement. Her chambers will be in Kootenai County.

One of the largest pools ever competed for the magistrate position, with 17 applicants vying for the magistrate's position.

Eckhart was one of six finalists for the position. Other finalists included Coeur d'Alene attorney James Combo; James Craig, assistant chief counsel for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Orlando, Fla.; Barbara Ann Duggan, an Ada County deputy prosecuting attorney; former Coeur d'Alene City Administrator Wendy Gabriel; and Rathdrum City Prosecutor Timothy Van Valin.