Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced the appointment of Steve Pestka as Judge of the 17th Circuit Court in Kent County.

“Steve will make an excellent judge – fair, hard-working, intelligent, balanced, and full of integrity,” Granholm said. “I know he will make the citizens of Kent County proud.”

Pestka, of Grand Rapids, most recently served as a private attorney with his law firm in Grand Rapids where he specialized in family law. Prior to entering into private practice, he served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for then Kent County Prosecutor David Sawyer. He was assigned to the Civil Division of the Prosecutor’s Office.

In 1992, Pestka was elected to the Kent County Commission and served a three-year term. He was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1998 and served two terms.

Petska earned his law degree from Detroit College of Law and graduated from the University of Michigan.

Petska replaces Judge David Soet who has retired creating a vacancy in the 17th Circuit Court.