Governor Kim Reynolds has appointed a judge from Harlan to the Iowa Supreme Court.

Susan Christensen, who has been a district court judge since 2015, was one of three women nominated for an opening on the state’s highest court. Two women previously served on the Iowa Supreme Court, but Iowa has had the only all-male state supreme court in the country for the past few years.

Christensen has a family connection to the court. Her late father, Jerry Larson, served on the Iowa Supreme Court for 30 years — longer than any other justice in state history. Larson died this past April. Christensen mentioned her father during her remarks.

Christensen says she’s been “chasing the dream” of being a judge for years and she credits her husband, Jay, for supporting her quest.

Christensen is the first appointment Reynolds has made to the Supreme Court.

Christensen will face a retention election in 2020.