FRANKFORT -- One of three people Gov. Ernie Fletcher appointed on Saturday to fill judicial vacancies pleaded guilty two years ago to drunken driving.

Dan Zalla of Covington, the new circuit judge in Kenton County, was charged with reckless driving and drunken driving in northern Kentucky on Jan. 3, 2004. He pleaded guilty to drunken driving six days later, according to Boone County district court records. The reckless driving charge was dismissed.

Zalla's driver's license was suspended for two months and he paid a $560.50 fine.

"I am pleased that Dan has accepted the appointment to the Kenton Circuit Court," Fletcher said in a statement released Saturday. "His impressive professional experience speaks for itself and I believe that he will be a great addition to the bench."

Zalla, who is running for the office, replaces Doug Stephens who resigned in June. Zalla said he regrets having driven while drunk.

"I made a mistake," he said Monday. "I pleaded guilty right way, took my medicine, and apologized to my family, church and friends."

Angela Criswell, executive director the Kentucky affiliate of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said she hopes Zalla learned from his experience.

"MADD as an organization would want to reserve judgment until we can see his judicial record," Criswell said. "But we will be watching closely to ensure that the law is fully exercised when it comes to DUI prosecutions in his court."

Zalla is running for the office of family court judge against northern Kentucky attorney Chris Mehling. Mehling said Monday that voters, not Fletcher, will have the final say in November about who they want as family court judge.

Fletcher also appointed former Franklin County Circuit Judge Ray Corns as a Franklin County district court judge to replace Thomas D. Wingate. Fletcher had appointed Wingate to fill an opening in Franklin County circuit court in July.

While serving as circuit judge, Corns presided over a lawsuit that led to major changes in the way the state funds public schools. That lawsuit was the catalyst for the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990.

"I am pleased that Judge Corns has agreed to bring his experience back to the courts of Franklin County," Fletcher said. "Judge Corns has presided over some of the most important legal cases of our day ..."

Fletcher also appointed Rebecca K. Phillips of Grayson as circuit judge in the eastern Kentucky counties of Carter, Elliott and Morgan to replace the retired Sam Long.