Bret Heim of Moran, who has worked as an attorney in the Iola area for the past 30 years, will be the next Allen County Magistrate Judge.
Heim’s appointment was announced Monday by the 31st Judicial District Nominating Commission to replace Charles “Chuck” Apt III, who retired June 10.
I’m excited about it,” Heim told the Register Tuesday. “I look forward to serving the community.”
Heim, 55, is a Hutchinson native, and graduated from Buhler High School in 1989 and Washburn University’s School of Law in 1996.
After working as assistant Allen County attorney for three years from 1996 to 1999, Heim entered private practice in 1999 with Immel, Immel & Works. He stayed with the firm over the next 21 years before opening Heim Law Offices P.A. in 2020. Heim is county counselor for Neosho and Woodson counties and serves as city attorney for both Moran and Kincaid.
A swearing-in date has not been set. He must first wind down his law practice, including notifying clients and the court system, a process he expects will take a month or longer.
“Right now, I’m thinking about everything I need to get done before that,” he notes. “I want to conclude everything that can be concluded before then.”
Heim also will assist clients in their search for new legal representation, and set up document storage for records that must be kept.
After he’s sworn into office, Heim will stand for a retention vote in the next general election to keep the judge’s seat. If retained, he will serve a four-year term.
The 31st Judicial District Nominating Commission is composed of Justice Larkin Walsh as the nonvoting chair; David Clark and Mark Lair, Chanute; Nancy Burns and John Chenoweth, Fredonia; Douglas Depew, Neodesha; Craig Mentzer, Neosho Falls; Shelia Lampe, Piqua; and Donald Greg Taylor, Stark.
Heim and wife Angelea, an English teacher at Marmaton Valley USD 256, have three daughters, Allison, Mallory and Sophia, the youngest of whom graduated high school this spring.
“This is a good time to make a transition,” he said.
