The governor has appointed someone to fill former Justice Glenn Murdock's spot on the Alabama Supreme Court.

Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Circuit Judge Brad Mendheim, of Dothan, to fill the associate justice vacancy on the state's highest court. Mendheim's appointment is effective Jan. 23.

Ivey said, "In appointing someone to serve on the Alabama Supreme Court, it is imperative to appoint someone with impeccable legal credentials and with unquestioned character and integrity - Judge Brad Mendheim exceeds those requirements."

Murdock announced earlier this month that he would resign from the state supreme court after more than a decade. His resignation was effective Tuesday.

Ivey said Friday, "With more than 17 years of judicial experience, Judge Mendheim will bring the valuable knowledge of a trial judge to the highest court in our state. As an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, I know Judge Mendheim will follow the law and serve with honor."

Mendheim, an Auburn University and Cumberland School of Law graduate, has been a circuit judge on the 20th Judicial Circuit, which includes Houston and Henry counties, since 2008.

From 2001 to 2008, Menheim served as a district judge in Houston County. Before taking the bench, he worked in a Dothan private practice and was an assistant district attorney.

During his judicial career, Mendheim has presided over more than 300 jury trials and has been appointed to hear over 250 cases in more than 35 counties, a press release stated. He has been recognized annually for accepting more special assignments than any other judge across Alabama.

Mendheim said in the release, "I appreciate the confidence placed in me by Governor Ivey, and I commit to serving the people of Alabama with diligence and integrity."

"I've been a trial court judge for most of my career, and I look forward to bringing that experience to the Supreme Court, while working with my new colleagues to ensure justice is achieved in every case we hear," he said.

Throughout his career, Mendheim was appointed by the Alabama Supreme Court to serve on several committes, inlcuding the Rules of Civil Procedure Committee, the Weighted Caseload Committee, the Chief Justice's Judicial Reallocation Task Force, and the statewide Committee on Drug Courts. Currently, he serves on the board of directors of the Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center.

Mendheim and his wife Michelle have been married for more than 23 years and have three teenage sons: Connor, Ryan, and Carson. Mendheim also serves as a Sunday school teacher and deacon at First Baptist Church of Dothan.