LANSING -- Gov. Jennifer Granholm has named Appeals Court Judge Alton Thomas Davis to the Michigan Supreme Court.

The move comes the same day that 69-year-old Justice Elizabeth Weaver resigned, only four months from the end of her second term, allowing the Democratic governor to name a replacement.

Weaver had been unlikely to get the Republican nomination for a third term and planned to run as an independent. But she tendered her resignation Thursday on the condition that the governor appoint a northern Michigan judge to replace her.

The appointment doesn't require the approval of the state Legislature.

Granholm appointed Davis to the Appeals Court in 2005.

A link to a livestream of today’s announcement will be tweeted on THIS LINK prior to the announcement.