Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Atmore native Lyn Stuart to be the next chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court on April 26, according to a governor’s news release.

The appointment came soon after former Chief Justice Roy Moore resigned from his seat to run for the U.S. Senate.

Stuart is the first female republican chief justice in the history of the state.

“To ensure a continuity of leadership and a smooth transition that keeps the ship of state steady, I have appointed Justice Lyn Stuart as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court,” Ivey said. “Chief Justice Stuart has served with honor and integrity on the high court for more than 16 years. I look forward to working with her as she now leads the judicial branch of state government.”

Stuart received her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University in 1977 and her law degree from the University of Alabama in 1980. Her legal career includes stints as an assistant state attorney general, special assistant attorney general for the state department of corrections and as an assistant district attorney for Baldwin County.

Stuart was elected a district judge in 1988 and again in 1994. She was appointed a circuit court judge in 1997 and was elected to the position in 1998. She has been elected three times to the Supreme Court, in 2000, 2006 and 2012. She has served as acting chief justice since May 6, 2016.

Stuart’s appointment started immediately.