RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) - Bill Mims, a former attorney general of Virginia, is moving on to the state Supreme Court later this week.

Mims is scheduled to be sworn in Friday, according to The Associated Press. The General Assembly picked him to replace former Justice Barbara Keenan, now a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Mims took over as attorney general in 2009 when Bob McDonnell resigned to focus on his run for governor. He had served as McDonnell's chief deputy.

Mims moved to private practice after completing McDonnell's term.

"We need individuals of Bill's character and intelligence in public service, and while he may have thought his time serving Virginia was over, today's appointment is welcome news to all of us who know just how uniquely qualified and decent a person he is," McDonnell said in March.

"The overwhelming support for Bill's appointment to the highest court in Virginia is a reflection of the high regard in which he is held by leaders from both parties."

Mims was also a longtime state legislator.

From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien by e-mail at jobrienwv@gmail.com.