New York’s four mid-level appeals courts are inching closer toward a full complement of judges, with Gov. Kathy Hochul going a long way toward adding to its quality while furthering efforts to diversify the courts when she appointed nine new judges, while elevating a 10th, legal observers said Monday.

With Hochul’s class of appointments Friday, there are now just two vacancies in the appellate division, one each in the First and Fourth Departments. But in the Fourth, a second vacancy will open up when a judge retires later in August, court system spokesman Lucian Chalfen said Monday.