TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback has made State Court of Appeals judge Caleb Stegall his first appointment to the Kansas Supreme Court.

Brownback made the announcement Friday morning during a news conference at the Statehouse.

The other finalists were state Court of Appeals judge Karen Arnold-Burger and state District Judge Merlin Wheeler. Stegall will replace former Justice Nancy Moritz, who left to join the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Stegall was Brownback’s chief counsel before he joined the appeals court in January. Arnold-Burger has served on that court since 2011.

Wheeler is chief judge of the 5th Judicial District of Lyon and Chase counties.

Brownback’s appointee to the Supreme Court will not require state Senate confirmation.