Fayette County State Court Judge Carla Wong McMillian has become the first Asian-American chosen to serve on the state's appellate court.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ( ) reports Gov. Nathan Deal appointed 39-year-old McMillian to the court Wednesday. McMillian is 1 of 4 judges the governor has appointed to the 12-judge panel.

McMillian's grandparents are from China and Hong Kong. The judge attended Duke University for undergraduate studies and went on to study law at the University of Georgia.

McMillian, of Tyrone, is filling a seat former Judge Harris Adams left vacant when he retired.