President Barack Obama has nominated Kansas Supreme Court Justice and former Salinan Nancy Moritz to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The White House announced the Democratic president’s nomination Thursday, and it immediately drew support from Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas. Moran called Moritz “highly qualified” and said he intends to vote for her confirmation.

The 53-year-old Moritz has served on the state’s highest court since 2011, having been appointed by outgoing Democratic Gov. Mark Parkinson. She previously spent seven years on the Kansas Court of Appeals.

Moritz was born in Beloit. She grew up in a big family in the small community of Tipton. Her family moved to Salina when she was 15. She graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Salina in 1978.

The Denver-based 10th Circuit court handles cases from Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming.

Obama also announced that he’s nominating Kansas City-area attorney Daniel D. Crabtree for a U.S. District Court judgeship in Kansas. Moran also endorsed Crabtree’s nomination.