Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has appointed a lawyer in private practice in Santa Fe to fill a vacancy on the New Mexico Court of Appeals.

Lujan Grisham’s appointment of Jane Yohalem to succeed recently retired Judge Linda Vanzi was announced Saturday by the governor’s office.

The announcement said Yohalem specializes in appeals and complex civil litigation and has 44 years of experience in appellate law.

Vanzi retired effective May 29.

A state screening commission nominated six of the 10 applications for the position.