DRUG TRIAL SET FOR FORMER JUDGE

Former District Judge Ira Colvin faces drug charges.

CARROLLTON -- The trial of former Pickens County District Judge Ira
Colvin, arrested last year on drug possession charges, is tentatively
set for December.

Defense attorney Jim Standridge and William Dill of the Alabama
Attorney General's Office met with Circuit Judge Scott Donaldson
Tuesday in Carrollton for a status hearing. Colvin was not present.
Donaldson set the trial date and said a pretrial hearing for motions
would be scheduled.

Colvin resigned his judgeship in August after a Pickens County grand
jury indicted him for methamphetamine possession. A search of his
office allegedly produced a small amount of methamphetamine.

Mississippi authorities arrested Colvin earlier in Columbus, Miss.,
for methamphetamine possession and possessing materials to
manufacture Methamphetamine earlier in August. He was arrested along
with Ashley Watkins of Gordo while trying to purchase ingredients to
make methamphetamine.

Watkins has also been charged with methamphetamine possession in
Alabama. But the cases are not directly related. Cynthia Bochman had
represented Watkins but had to leave the case when she joined the
24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office. Attorney Mary
Turner now represents her.

Both presiding Circuit Judge James Moore and District Attorney Chris
McCool recused themselves from the case. McCool asked the Alabama
Attorney General's Office to prosecute the case. Donaldson, a
Tuscaloosa County Judge, was appointed to hear it.

Gov. Bob Riley appointed W.O. "Buddy" Kirk to fill the vacancy left
by Colvin's resignation.