One of California’s eight newest judges is the first openly transgender person to be appointed to the bench in the Golden State, officials said.

Andi Mudryk, 58, will serve as a judge in Sacramento County Superior Court, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Benjamin Davidian, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said Friday in announcing a batch of judicial appointments and nominations.

“I’m humbled, honored and I’m thrilled,” Mudryk told The Times on Friday. “I’m grateful to Gov. Newsom for creating a vision of California for all.”

Mudryk has lived in Sacramento since 2009 and said she feels proud to serve the community.

She pledged to use her experiences to ensure that everyone who appears before her is welcome in the court system.

Mudryk said her experiences as a transgender woman, a person with a significant disability, the parent of an adult Black man, and the descendant of Jewish Holocaust survivors spurred a legal career spent advocating for the civil rights of all people….

Victoria Kolakowski became the state’s first openly transgender judge when she was elected to the Alameda County Superior Court in November 2010, according to Equality California….

This March 25 Yahoo News story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.