Democrats had mentioned at least 15 people as potential candidates. They included Securities Commissioner Chris Biggs, a former Geary County prosecutor who narrowly lost the 2002 attorney general's race, as well as other county and former federal prosecutors.

A former mentor described Six as ''very serious, very bright,'' and a prosecutor who's tried cases before him described him as thoughtful.

''I promise to serve with integrity as an independent representative of the people of Kansas,'' Six said.

But Christian Morgan, the Kansas Republican Party's executive director, questioned whether Six truly will be independent. He also noted that Sebelius helped recruit Morrison as a candidate and enthusiastically endorsed Morrison's successful campaign for attorney general in 2006.

''We've heard the governor stand up in support of an AG before, proclaiming his greatness,'' Morgan said. ''I think everyone would understand if we're just a tad bit skeptical.''

Sebelius said the Kansas Bureau of Investigation investigated Six's background before she appointed him to his judgeship in January 2005 and updated its check before his appointment as attorney general. Six said they had a ''thorough and candid'' conversation before he took the job.

Bob Beatty, a Washburn University political scientist, said it's significant that Six mentioned his grandfather and father, had his wife and children with him and spoke about serving with integrity.

''Integrity was the code word for, 'I'm not Paul Morrison,''' Beatty said. ''He put four generations of his family's reputation on the line there with this process, basically saying, 'I did not lie to her when she asked me whether there were any skeletons in my closet.'''

But during his campaign in 2006, Morrison said there was no hint of scandal associated with his tenure as Johnson County district attorney. He also appeared in one television ad with his family.

Morgan said of Six's appointment: ''When they present all this evidence that he is squeaky clean, they understand they have an image problem.''

Six will fill the remaining three years of Morrison's term and is expected to seek a full, four-year term in 2010.

He declined Friday to make that promise, saying, ''Today's not the day to talk politics.'' However, both he and Sebelius said ensuring continuity in the attorney general's office is important to them.

Six's new job comes with a pay cut of nearly $22,000: the salary for a district court judge is $118,297, compared to $96,489 for the attorney general. Asked about that, he said he took a pay cut as big or bigger when he went from private practice to the bench.

His wife is a professor at the University of Kansas law school. He was an instructor as well in 2006.

His father, Fred, served on the Kansas Supreme Court from September 1988 until January 2003, having been appointed by Republican Gov. Mike Hayden after a lengthy private legal practice.

''The fact that his dad was on the Supreme Court shows what family background he comes from,'' said Dan Lykins, a Topeka attorney who is the state Democratic Party's treasurer. ''He's going to be a hardworking attorney general, extra smart. He knows what he's doing.''

The new attorney general received his law degree from the University of Kansas in 1993 and then served as a clerk for Judge Deanell Tacha of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The following year, he joined Shamberg, Johnson and Bergman. The firm specializes in lawsuits dealing with defective products, transportation accidents, medical malpractice, health care fraud and environmental issues. Six became a partner after five years.

''He is very serious, very bright, very compassionate and very independent,'' said Victor Bergman, a partner in the same firm and Six's mentor when Six joined it. ''I was a little surprised he was willing to take this because it puts him in the political arena. But I think he's up to whatever he decides to do.''

Bergman added: ''He has no guile or airs about him. He's a regular guy.''

Sebelius said Six's experience as a litigator is important because the attorney general's staff told her that most of the office's time is spent on consumer protection and civil cases. But she said being a judge gave Six experience with criminal cases, because they account for up to 70 percent of his work on the bench.

Angela Wilson, an assistant Douglas County district attorney, who's tried most of her cases before Six in the past 18 months, called him ''extremely conscientious and professional.''

''He is very measured in his rulings and is very careful,'' Wilson said. ''He does a lot of research before reaching a decision and he puts a lot of thought into the decisions he makes.''

But Morgan noted that plaintiffs' attorneys have long been strong allies of Sebelius, who lobbied for the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association in the 1970s and 1980s. Six contributed $200 to Sebelius when she ran for insurance commissioner in 1998 and $750 to her 2002 gubernatorial campaign.

''We'll see whether or not his independence is really there or not,'' Morgan said. ''When his friend, Governor Sebelius, gives him a favor like he just earned, we'll see where his independence comes down.''

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Associated Press writer Carl Manning and John Milburn also contributed to this story.