Topeka ? Richard D. Greene, a Wichita attorney with an extensive background in tax cases and oil and gas cases, was appointed Friday to fill a vacancy on the Kansas Court of Appeals.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius selected Greene from among three nominees to fill the vacancy created by Judge Robert Gernon’s appointment to the Kansas Supreme Court in December.

The other candidates whose names were forwarded to the governor by the Supreme Court Nominating Commission were Riley County District Judge David Stutzman and Colby attorney H. David Starkey.

Greene, 53, has practiced with the Wichita law firm of Morris, Laing, Evans, Brock & Kennedy since earning his law degree in 1975 from Southern Methodist University. He also holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

In addition to his private practice, Greene has served since 1996 as special counsel on sales tax litigation for the city of Wichita’s Water Department.

Greene is Sebelius’ second appointee to the 11-member Court of Appeals.