Gov. Sam Brownback has nominated a senior federal judge’s longtime legal adviser and research clerk for the Kansas Court of Appeals.

Brownback announced Thursday that he’s chosen Kathryn Gardner of Topeka for the state’s second-highest court. Her appointment is subject to state Senate confirmation.

Gardner has worked for the past 15 years as Senior U.S. District Judge Sam Crow’s law clerk. She also is a former assistant attorney general, had a private law practice for 12 years and was a research attorney for a state Court of Appeals judge for two years after law school.

Brownback cited her legal experience during a news conference but also noted that Gardner writes cowboy poetry.

She would replace Caleb Stegall, who was elevated by Brownback last year to the state Supreme Court.