The Senate today voted unanimously to approve Gov. Linda Lingle’s appointment of Associate Justice Mark Recktenwald to a 10-year term as the state’s fifth chief justice.

Recktenwald, 54, was appointed by Lingle last month to head the five-member high court and the state judiciary.

His appointment was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday.

Recktenwald replaces Ronald Moon, who stepped down this week because of the mandatory retirement provision for justices and judges at age 70.