Nashville Judge Casey Moreland will no longer hear cases in the Davidson County Drug and Human Trafficking Courts that he started.
Presiding Judge Gale Robinson told NewsChannel 5 Investigates the decision for Moreland to step aside from those dockets was a mutual one.
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He said Judge Moreland will seek help for his own alcohol abuse issues.
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Moreland will remain a General Sessions Judge and continue to hear cases on his regular criminal court docket.
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Moreland started Davidson County's Drug Treatment Court in 2003 to give those arrested for non-violent drug offenses a chance at rehabilitation.
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But last week presiding Judge Robinson took over the Treatment Court's docket.
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He told NewsChannel 5 Investigates he will oversee the Court for "the time being."
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He also said he will oversee another court that Moreland started last year -- a specialty court for victims of human trafficking.
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Moreland stepped down from the treatment courts as questions about his conduct swirl around him.
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Texts between Moreland and Natalie Amos, with whom he was having an affair, that were obtained by NewsChannel 5 Investigates repeatedly mention the courts over which he was presiding.
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On May 17, Moreland texted Amos "Tuesday and Wednesday are my busy days. HOs and Junkies."
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When Amos asked "Did you finally get all the HO's and junkies situated?"
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Moreland replied "Got the junkies in jail and the HO's out for the conventions this weekend!!"
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In April Moreland texted Amos that he had to be at a Drug Court graduation at 5.
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Then said "Hope I'm not drunk by then."
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The two talked about skipping the graduation, but eventually Moreland decided to go.
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But it was not until police investigated the suicide of Leigh Terry, that questions about Moreland's court came to light.
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Terry had just been a trip with Moreland, Natalie Amos and attorney Bryan Lewis.
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A police investigation determined Terry committed suicide days after returning from that trip.
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Lewis also sits on the non-profit boards of both the Treatment and Human Trafficking Courts.
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Moreland's attorney said Moreland is taking a leave from the treatment courts for personal reasons.
