TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Court of Appeals has sworn in Kathryn Gardner as its newest judge.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports Gardner was sworn in Friday in the Supreme Court courtroom in the Kansas Judicial Center in Topeka.

Gov. Sam Brownback nominated Gardner in January and she was confirmed by the Kansas Senate in March.

Gardner served as the law clerk for U.S. District Judge Sam Crow since 2000 after spending 12 years as a practicing lawyer in Wichita and two years as an assistant state attorney general.

She disclosed in documents provided to the Senate that she taught and studied at seminars organized by the conservative law group Alliance Defending Freedom. She also is a member of the Christian Legal Society.