Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday chose an Alameda County judge with a Big Law background to serve as an associate justice on the First District Court of Appeal.

Judge Tara Desautels has served on the Alameda County Superior Court since 2010 and currently handles a civil calendar. If confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, she would join the First District’s Division Two as an associate justice and fill the vacancy created when Therese Stewart was elevated to presiding justice.