The state Supreme Court has named Butler County Common Pleas Court Judge Marilyn Horan administrative judge in the county, taking over administrative duties that had been the purview of the county's President Judge, Thomas Doerr.

Doerr will remain on the bench as a judge and continue to hold the title of president judge, according to a spokeswoman for the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.

The state Supreme Court handed down the decision in an order dated Oct. 26, which states that Horan's appointment is effective immediately.

Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche said Thursday morning that county officials had no input on the decision.

“This is a (Supreme) court decision and we have no information to understand why that decision was made,” Osche said. “We can only presume and trust in that decision.”

Judge Doerr has been embroiled in a controversy over the last several weeks after a civil lawsuit was filed against him on Oct. 10 by a county probation officer who is alleging sexual misconduct and workplace discrimination.

Osche declined to discuss the case any further on Thursday.

“It's just unfortunate that this spotlight has been put on the county in this manner,” Osche said. “But we are confident that moving forward that (Horan) will bring positive results.”

Doerr has been a judge in county court since 1992 and was named president judge in August 2000. Horan has served as a judge in county court since her election in 1998, and emerged in 2015 as a candidate for the federal bench.

Horan said in a prepared statement released by her office that “the Supreme Court has asked me to serve in this capacity. I will serve to the best of my ability. It is a privilege to serve our court, our dedicated staff and our Butler community.”

Horan, in her statement, declined to address the civil lawsuit against Doerr.