(AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback has appointed a longtime southeast Kansas attorney to a district court judgeship.

Brownback’s office announced Thursday that he had named Kurtis Loy, of Pittsburg, to the bench in the 11th Judicial District. He will fill a vacancy caused by a retirement.

The district covers Cherokee, Crawford and Labette counties.

Brownback cited Loy’s experience in picking him. Loy has been an attorney since 1980, and the governor’s office said his private practice includes contracts, civil litigation, tax law and family law. He has also mediated civil litigation and child custody cases.

Loy received his law degree from Washburn University in 1979. He’s a member of the Board of Trustees for the Kansas Bar Association Foundation.