New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday announced her appointments of two new district court judges: Maria Montoya Chavez as a judge on the Second Judicial District Court and Kirsten Louise Dick for the Thirteenth Judicial District Court.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX.

Montoya Chavez, whose appointment starts Sept. 28, has practiced law in the state for more than 25 years, and fills a new judgeship the state Legislature created, with her term running until the next general election after one year of service, at which point she will run for election for a full term. She previously served as chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of New Mexico and has a law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law in Texas and a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of New Mexico, according to a news release.

Dick, who currently serves as a hearing officer and special commissioner for the Second Judicial District Court, fills a vacancy left by Cheryl Hein Johnston. Her term begins Sept. 12, and she will also run in the next general election after one year of service for a full term. She holds a law degree from UNM and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Denver. She previously served as Second Judicial Court’s Children’s Court managing attorney, as a rules attorney for the New Mexico Supreme Court’s Clerk of Court’s Office and as a judicial law clerk and assistant attorney in the chambers of Justice Barbara J. Vigil.