WHEELING, W.Va. -- Ohio County Circuit Judge Arthur Recht is retiring Jan. 31 but wants the state Supreme Court to name him a senior status judge.

That would let him oversee cases as needed throughout West Virginia. Senior status judges are often tapped when a judge is recused or has an overwhelming caseload.

Recht turns 74 in February and told The Intelligencer he wants to cut back.

He's overseen many high-profile and mass litigation cases during his nearly 20 years on the bench.

Recht was appointed to the 1st Judicial Circuit in 1981 and returned to private practice two years later before serving on the Supreme Court from 1995 to 1996.

He then returned to the Northern Panhandle.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin will appoint a successor to serve until the next general election.