A process of forming a gate electrode in an electrode device is disclosed. The process includes steps of, depositing an insulating film on a nitride semiconductor layer; forming a photoresist with an opening corresponding to the gate electrode on the insulating film; forming a recess in the insulating film using the photoresist as an etching mask, the recess leaving a rest portion in the insulating film; exposing the photoresist in oxygen plasma; baking the photoresist to make an edge of the opening thereof dull; etching the rest portion of the insulating film using the dulled photoresist as an etching mask; and forming the gate electrode so as to be in contact with the semiconductor layer through the opening in the insulating film.