MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Gov. Kay Ivey announced Friday that she will fill an upcoming vacancy on the Alabama Supreme Court with an outgoing member that she had previously appointed earlier this year.
Ivey said she is appointing Justice Brad Mendheim Jr. back to the state Supreme Court. Mendheim will fill the vacancy that will be created on Jan. 14 when Justice Tom Parker is inaugurated as chief justice. The appointment is effective Jan. 15.
“After reviewing all of those interested in the position, Justice Mendheim is clearly the most qualified, with impeccable legal credentials and with unquestioned character and integrity,” Ivey said in a statement. “With more than 17 years of judicial experience, Justice Mendheim brings the experience of having served on the Alabama Supreme Court.”
Ivey first appointed Mendheim to the Supreme Court in January to fill the seat previously held by Justice Glenn Murdock.
Mendheim ran for election to the court, but lost the Republican primary runoff to Mobile County Circuit Judge Sarah Hicks Stewart.
Under Alabama law, Mendheim will have to run for the judicial seat in the 2020 general election.
Mendheim served as a circuit judge for 10 years for the 20th Judicial Circuit, which covers Houston and Henry counties. He previously was a district judge in Houston County. He had also served more than six years as an assistant district attorney. He is a graduate of Auburn University and the Cumberland School of Law.
Parker in November defeated Democratic challenger Bob Vance Jr. to be elected chief justice of the state’s highest court.
Parker defeated current Alabama Chief Justice Lyn Stuart in the Republican primary. The race pitted Parker, a longtime ally of Roy Moore, against Stuart, the judge who took over his duties when Moore was suspended.
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