Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday appointed tax attorney and longtime aide William Sellers to the Alabama Supreme Court, bringing the state’s court to full staffing for the first time in a year.

Sellers, a partner with the powerful Birmingham firm of Balch and Bingham, chaired Ivey’s 2010 and 2014 campaigns for lieutenant governor. He has also done charity work in the Montgomery region.

In a statement, Ivey called Sellers qualified, capable and someone “who exemplifies the qualities of a true public servant.”

“His conservative principles and commitment to the rule of law, along with his commitment to his family church and community are foundations that make him uniquely qualified for the position of Associate Justice,” the statement said.

Sellers, a graduate of Hillsdale College, the University of Alabama School of Law and New York University, mainly practices tax law but has also won cases that have broadened political parties’ ability to determine candidate qualifications, without court intervention.

Sellers said in a statement he was “humbled” by the appointment.

“As a Justice, I can only promise to live up to my oath and serve the people of Alabama faithfully and fairly,” the statement said. “I will respect the rule of law and apply the law equally without bias or respect to person or station in life.”

Sellers was also Alabama counsel for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s 2008 campaign, which Ivey chaired. He planned a run for the Alabama House of Representatives in 1998, but withdrew after then-incumbent Perry Hooper, R-Montgomery, canceled plans to run for lieutenant governor that year. Sellers served as an Alabama elector for Donald Trump last year.

The attorney was also considered a candidate to replace former Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor in 2004 after President George Bush appointed him to the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Gov. Bob Riley appointed Troy King, his then-legal adviser, to the office.

Sellers takes the seat once held by Lyn Stuart, who Ivey named chief justice last month. The election for the seat will take place next year.

A native of Montgomery, Sellers has long been active in local United Way campaigns and served as its chairman. He lives in Montgomery with his wife, Lee, with whom he has three children.