Circuit Court Judge John Heisserer of Cape Girardeau announced Wednesday he will file as a candidate to retain his bench position in the circuit's Division II in Cape Girardeau, Perry and Bollinger Counties. A formal filing will be Feb. 24 at the Secretary of State's office in Jefferson City.

Heisserer, 47, was appointed by Gov. Bob Holden after former Judge John Grimm returned to private practice in March.

Heisserer is a 1975 graduate of Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau, a 1978 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and graduated Loyola University Law School in 1981 with Law Review Honors.

Before becoming a judge, Heisserer worked in private practice at a Cape Girardeau law firm for more than 20 years.

He is a member of Old St. Vincent's Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau, where he is a lector.

Heisserer pledged to voters a positive campaign centered on the issues.

"I have worked hard to see that my courtroom is run fairly for all people of all political persuasions and all are treated equally based on the facts of the case," he said.