SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Wednesday announced her selection of Zachary A. Ives to fill a vacancy on the New Mexico Court of Appeals.

The seat was opened when Justice Michael Vigil was elected to the state Supreme Court.

“I’m pleased to name an accomplished legal mind in Zachary Ives to this seat,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “He has broad experience, having represented clients at every level our state and federal systems, and a demonstrated commitment to the craft of legal writing and reasoning.”

Ives, a New Mexico native and lifelong resident, has been an attorney at various firms and in solo practice for 17 years, practicing in state and federal courts, gaining extensive experience in criminal, appellate, commercial and personal injury law. Ives clerked under Chief Justice Pamela Minzner of the New Mexico Supreme Court and earned his law degree from the University of New Mexico in 2000. He was admitted to the New Mexico bar the same year.

The governor selected Ives from the list of candidates provided by the Judicial Nominating Commission.