Governor Appoints First Openly Gay Supreme Court Justice

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton has named Appeals Court Judge Margaret Chutich to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Chutich is openly gay, which makes her the first such justice on the high court. And she was a familiar choice for Dayton, who appointed her to the appellate court just four years ago and had her as a finalist for the last Supreme Court vacancy.

Chutich succeeds Wilhelmina Wright, another Dayton appointee who was confirmed to a federal judgeship this week.

It's Dayton's fourth pick since he took office in 2011. Earlier this year, he tapped Appeals Judge Natalie Hudson to replace the retiring Justice Alan Page. He's also appointed attorney and Democratic party ally David Lillehaug to the bench.

The seven-member court has three Dayton appointees.