A 15-year prosecutor in the Suffolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will be elevated to the bench come July 1.

James E. Wiser, 45, was recently appointed by General Assembly vote as a judge of the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of the Fifth Judicial District, which includes Suffolk, Franklin, and Southampton and Isle of Wight counties. He replaces Alfreda Talton-Harris, who is retiring.

“It’s a bit overwhelming and humbling,” Wiser said. “I’m excited about it.”

Wiser attended the University of Virginia and received his law degree from George Mason University. He worked at a private law firm, doing defense and family law, for less than a year before getting the call to come to the Suffolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

His first two and a half years were funded by a grant, so he was required to focus on domestic violence prosecutions.

“It was an eye-opener,” Wiser said. “That type of crime touches so many lives.”

He then spent a few years focusing on general adult crime, particularly white-collar crime, before being placed back on the office’s juvenile team about 10 years ago.

“A lot of the juvenile violence was starting to grow, and the gang situation was getting to be more active and recognizable,” Wiser said. Therefore, the juvenile team had more work to do.

Wiser was among those who encouraged the city to create the Neighborhood Enforcement Teams, which focus on controlling gang violence.

“We now have four prosecutors who are able to prosecute the gang statutes,” Wiser said.

He leads the gang task force, which includes police officers and the sheriff’s office, Suffolk Public Schools, probation officers, court services, Virginia State Police and others.

“It’s keeping the connections of those that are dealing with gang violence so we move as one unit,” Wiser said.

As a Juvenile and Domestic Relations judge, Wiser will hear a wide range of cases, including domestic violence, custody, visitation and child support, as well as crimes committed by or against juveniles.

“The things the juvenile court deals with profoundly impact so many lives,” Wiser said.

Wiser and his wife have three children, all under the age of 5, and live in Suffolk.