HUDSON VALLEY, N.Y. -- Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed the first female ever to serve as the Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court for the Third Judicial Department.

Justice Karen K. Peters got the nod on Thursday. Her duties will include helping decide appeal cases from a 28 county area, as well as shaping statewide judicial policy.

Justice Peters has served on the Appellate Division since 1994 and has been a part of the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct since 2000.

Throughout her career, she's also worked in Ulster County's family court and was a visiting assistant D.A. in Dutchess County.

Justice Peters released a statement on her historic appointment saying, "I look forward to continuing to ensure New York State's justice system protects all our residents so that everyone gets treated fairly, and is connected to the needs of our state's communities. I thank Governor Cuomo for this appointment."