By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – Newly elected Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Lara Alvis will take the bench next month to fill the remainder of Judge Dan Reeves’ term, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley announced on April 21.

Alvis defeated fellow judge candidate Patrick Kennedy during an April 12 runoff election for the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court judge seat. Both were vying to replace the judge position previously held by Judge Dan Reeves, who retired from his position on March 1.

Because Reeves stepped down before his term ended, the Shelby County Judicial Nominating Commission nominated Alvis, Kennedy and J. Timothy Smith to fill out Reeves’ unexpired term on April 13.

After the Judicial Nominating Commission forwarded the three names to Bentley, the governor appointed Alvis to take the bench beginning on May 1. Alvis’ term will expire in 2021.

In his letter to Alvis, Bentley praised her for her willingness to take the bench earlier than normal.

“Honesty and integrity are two virtues that I prioritize for my administration to exemplify, and I know that you will do the same while in service to our great state,” Bentley wrote. “I appreciate your willingness to serve in this position, and I am confident that your time will be spent in a manner to improve the state of Alabama.”

After receiving Bentley’s letter, Alvis thanked her supporters, and said she is planning to take a step back from social media.

“Many thanks to all my friends, family, campaign committee members and those who simply believed in me,” Alvis wrote in an April 21. “To uphold the oath of the office, I simply cannot be actively engaging with anyone on Facebook.

“I will do as I promised from the beginning of this campaign and remain fair and impartial, work hard and serve the people of Shelby County with much pride for our county and state. Many thanks to everyone,” she wrote.