Paul M. Peatross, Jr., Albemarle County circuit judge and adjunct professor at the Law School, announced Friday that he will no longer preside over criminal cases involving county prosecutors and public defenders, according to the Daily Progress.
Peatross, Albemarle County's only circuit court judge, who has served on the bench since 1994, offered no explanation for his decision.
Previously, Peatross heard every felony case in the county.
Judge William R. Shelton from Chester has handled the criminal cases typically heard by Peatross, the Progress reported.