NEW ALBANY, Ind. (AP) – A new magistrate judge will be taking the bench inside the federal courthouse in the southern Indiana city of New Albany.

Federal court officials say Van T. Willis will preside over preliminary criminal proceedings in the New Albany division as a part-time magistrate judge. Willis was sworn into office during a private ceremony Friday.

Willis replaces Judge Michael Naville, who died in September after nearly a decade in the position.

Willis was selected for a four-year term by the judges for the federal courts' Southern District of Indiana. He will also continue to practice civil law as a senior partner at the New Albany office of the Kightlinger & Gray law firm, where he has worked with since 1991.