By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Friday, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Circuit Judge Brad Mendheim to fill a vacancy on the Alabama Supreme Court created by the resignation of Justice Glenn Murdock.
“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,” Ivey said. “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.”
Brad Mendheim
Since 2008, Judge Brady Mendheim has served as a circuit judge on the 20th Judicial Circuit – Houston and Henry Counties. He served as Houston County district judge from 2001 to 2008. During his time on the bench, Mendheim has presided over more than 300 jury trials.
“I appreciate the confidence placed in me by Governor Ivey, and I commit to serving the people of Alabama with diligence and integrity,” Mendheim said. “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.”
Mendheim has been appointed to hear over 250 cases in more than 35 Alabama counties by every Alabama Supreme Court chief justice since 2001 and has been recognized annually for accepting more special assignments than any other judge in the state.
Mendheim was appointed by the Alabama Supreme Court to serve on the Rules of Civil Procedure Committee and has been appointed by the chief justice to serve on the Weighted Caseload Committee, the Chief Justice’s Judicial Reallocation Task Force and the statewide Committee on Drug Courts. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Southeast Alabama Child Advocacy Center.
Prior to his becoming a judge in 2001, Mendheim was in private practice in Dothan and served for more than six years as an assistant district attorney in the 20th Judicial Circuit, where he personally tried more than 120 criminal jury cases. As a judge, he has presided over a large variety of trials, including death penalty cases, felony cases and civil cases.
Mendheim has a Bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and a law degree from Samford’s Cumberland School of Law.
Mendheim and his wife, Michelle, have been married for more than 23 years. They are the proud parents of three sons. He and his family are long-time members of First Baptist Church of Dothan, where he serves as a Sunday school teacher and deacon.
Judge Mendheim’s appointment as an associate justice of the Alabama Supreme Court is effective Jan. 23, 2018.
Associate Justice Glenn Murdock recently resigned his position on the court to pursue another elected office or other business opportunities. His last day on the court was Tuesday, Jan. 16.
It is not known yet whether Mendheim will qualify to run for his own term on the court or not. Currently, Debra Jones and Sarah Hicks Stewart have both qualified with the Republican Party for associate justice for Place 1; Tommy Bryan has qualified for another term on Place 2; Will Sellers – another Ivey appointee – has qualified for his own term for Place 3; Jay Mitchell has qualified for Place 4.
Justices Lyn Stuart and Tom Parker are running against each other for chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.
