Judge and law professor Marta Cartabia was unanimously elected on Wednesday to head Italy’s constitutional court, the first time in the country’s history a woman has presided over the powerful body. Cartabia, 56, had been considered in 2015 as a potential candidate for Italy’s presidency. And in September this year, she was approached to become prime minister after the disintegration of the previous government.

The constitutional court was created after World War II. Besides ruling on the constitutionality of laws and voting systems and approving referendums, it also decides major social or ethical issues, such as assisted suicide. Cartabia was elected unanimously by the 15 judges sitting at the court, where she has served since 2011 as one of three women on the bench.