A little more than a year after he lost a bid for re-election, former Rep. Frank Kratovil has been appointed to a Maryland judgeship.

The Maryland Democrat was appointed by Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) to replace a retiring district judge in Queen Anne’s County on the state’s Eastern Shore.

“His strong work ethic, dedication to justice, and years of experience will make him an excellent judge,” O’Malley said in a statement.

A former state’s attorney in Queen Anne’s County, Kratovil was elected to the Republican-leaning 1st district in 2008 after incumbent Rep. Wayne Gilchrest lost in a heated GOP primary.

In a 2010 rematch, Kratovil lost to Republican Andy Harris.