Brewer appoints Republican judge to Supreme Court - CBS 5 - KPHO

Arizona Court of Appeals Judge Ann Scott Timmer is Gov. Jan Brewer's choice to fill a vacancy on the Arizona Supreme Court.

The 52-year-old Republican was one of three finalists nominated by a state screening commission.

Timmer replaces former Justice Andrew Hurwitz, a Democrat, and her appointment changes the court's partisan makeup to four Republicans and one Democrat. Hurwitz resigned in June to become a federal judge.

Brewer's three Supreme Court appointments have all gone to fellow Republicans.

Timmer was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2000 by then-Gov. Jane Hull, another Republican.

Brewer says in a statement that Timmer embodies judicial restraint and respects the separation of powers between branches of government.

In 2003, Timmer authored a panel's decision upholding the constitutionality of Arizona's law banning same-sex marriages.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. CBS 5 (Meredith Corporation) contributed to this report.