Gov. Nathan Deal has appointed Robyn Crittenden to replace Brian Kemp as Georgia’s secretary of state. Crittenden, a lawyer, was commissioner of the state Department of Human Services.

She was sworn in as secretary of state Thursday afternoon and will serve the remainder of Kemp’s term. “Robyn has been one of the most effective leaders within my administration and she is well-qualified to fill one of the most important jobs in state government,” Deal said in a statement.