Updated

The president of the United Nations' top human rights body has appointed a former New York Supreme Court judge to serve as the third member of a commission investigating possible violations of the rules of war in Gaza.

Gabon Ambassador Baudelaire Ndong Ella, who presides over the U.N.'s 47-nation Human Rights Council, said Monday Mary McGowan Davis will join William Schabas and Doudou Diene on the commission created by the council's July 23 resolution.

Davis, who also was a federal prosecutor and has previous U.N. experience related to Gaza, will take the place of British-Lebanese lawyer Amal Alamuddin. Alamuddin, who is engaged to marry George Clooney, said she could not accept the role shortly after she had been appointed to it.

A commission report is due in March 2015.