By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – Four people – Including three candidates in this year’s elections – will be considered to fill the remainder of outgoing Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Dan Reeves’ term.

On Feb. 17, the Shelby County Judicial Nominating Commission released its list of four nominees who will be considered to fill the remainder of Reeves’ term.

On Jan. 19, Reeves announced his March 1 retirement date, launching the Shelby County Judicial Nominating Commission’s process to find his replacement.

Reeves has been serving as the 18th Judicial Circuit Judge since 1998, and served as the Shelby County circuit clerk from 1988-1998. In June 2015, Reeves announced he would not seek another term as judge, and said he planned to step down in early 2016.

His current term is not set to expire until early 2017.

During the March 1 Republican primary election, voters will decide who will take over Reeves’ spot in 2017, as candidates Lara McCauley Alvis, Patrick Kennedy and Timothy “Tim” Smith have qualified for the race.

However, the person elected during this year’s elections will not take office until January 2017, meaning Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley must appoint a new judge to serve out the remainder of Reeves’ current term.

Alvis, Kennedy, Smith and John M. Eades Jr. were nominated to fill the remainder of Reeves’ term.

The county’s Judicial Nominating Commission, which consists of members Judge H.L. Conwill, Doug Key, Jim Pino. Dr. C. Dale Elliott and Rux Bentley, will now be available to interview the four candidates and members of the general public until 4:30 p.m. on March 2.

After conducting interviews, the Commission will then meet to narrow the list down to three candidates, which will be submitted to Bentley for consideration.

Bentley will then have 90 days to fill the vacancy.