JUNEAU — Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell has appointed an Anchorage lawyer to the state Supreme Court to replace a justice recently named to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Parnell appointed Peter Maassen, who came to Alaska in 1980 with his wife and has been in private practice most of his career. He replaces Justice Morgan Christen.

Maassen is a partner at the general civil law firm of Ingaldson, Maassen & Fitzgerald PC.

The governor’s announcement says Maassen is also a member of the Anchorage Youth Court Board of Directors and the Alaska Bar Association Board of Governors.

Parnell said Thursday that Maassen “has strong legal writing skills, intelligence and a background that includes operating a small business.”

The Alaska Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices.

The governor picked Maassen from a list of two applicants nominated by the Alaska Judicial Council.