Sara L. McCulloch has been chosen to be the new judge for Bainbridge Island Municipal Court Judge.

At City Manager Doug Schulze’s nomination, the Bainbridge Island City Council confirmed McCulloch’s appointment at Wednesday’s meeting.

“I just want to commend the city manager on the very thorough and rigorous process he went through to reach what appears to be a very great solid solution,” Councilman Dave Ward said.

McCulloch will take over the duties of Bainbridge Island’s current Judge Kathryn Carruthers.

Carruthers’ term expires Dec. 31, and she told the city earlier this year she did not want another term.

McCulloch was one of four finalists for the position. She is a resident of Bainbridge Island and has worked in criminal law for the last

13 years. Currently, she is a senior deputy prosecuting attorney for the King County Prosecutor’s Office, where she is senior specialist for sex offender registration related cases and issues.

City officials said McCulloch has a long history of public service as a prosecutor, domestic violence advocate and volunteer, and she handled thousands of criminal cases during her time in the King County Prosecutor’s Office.

Twelve people applied for the judge’s post, and McCulloch was a finalist along with Thomas Alpaugh, Steve Olsen and Cindy Smith.

“I’m excited to serve the community and I’m very pleased that the city has confirmed me and appointed me as municipal court judge, and so I look forward  to transitioning in,” McCulloch said.

The city said the selection process involved screening of the applicants by a group of judges and court administrators from Port Orchard, Edmonds, Kirkland and Issaquah. The candidates were also ranked by the Kitsap County Bar Association through a membership poll.

McCulloch earned her juris doctor degree from Boston College Law School in 2000. She received her undergraduate’s degree, a bachelor of arts in political science, in 1995 from Western Washington University.

According to a proposed employment contract with the city, the judge’s job will be a part-time position, at 50 percent of full-time.

The salary will be 50 percent of 95 percent of a Washington state district court judge’s salary.

In 2014, that means McCulloch will be paid a salary of $68,658.

Benefits include the city paying for 50 percent of the medical insurance premiums for the new judge and half of the medical insurance premiums for the judge’s spouse and dependents. The city will also pay half of the cost of premiums for dental insurance and vision plan coverage for the judge, her spouse and dependents.