State Rep. Drew Hansen has been appointed as vice chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

Hansen, a Bainbridge Island Democrat who was elected to the 23rd Legislative District’s Position 2 in November, said he was looking forward to participating on critical issues of civil and criminal law. Hansen is a partner in Susman Godfrey, a Seattle law firm that also has offices in Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York.

“I’m honored by this appointment, and I’m looking forward to working to make our legal system function smoothly and efficiently,” Hansen said Tuesday.

The House Judiciary Committee considers a wide variety of legal issues, including commercial law, firearms regulation, eminent domain, torts, probate, guardianships, civil commitments, landlord-tenant law and consumer protection. It also looks into such family law issues as marriage, divorce, child support and adoption, and it reviews the overall administration of the courts.

The majority Democratic Caucus announced its committee assignments for all its members on Monday for the 2013 Legislature. Hansen was also named to seats on the Finance and Higher Education committees.

The session begins Jan. 14.

Hansen was appointed to the House in late 2011 to fill a vacancy left by Christine Rolfes’ departure for the Washington Senate.