Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Richard Luce to retire

Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Richard Luce, the longest-serving judge for the circuit, has announced his retirement, effective at the end of 2012.

Luce was elected as a Pinellas County judge in 1980 and appointed as a circuit judge in 1987. Luce has handled family and criminal cases and spent 14 years in what is known as the "career criminal division," handling serious felonies that often involved people previously convicted of multiple offenses. Hie retirement will take effect at the end of the year.

Anticipating his retirement, two people already have announced they will run to succeed him: Assistant State Attorney Bill Burgess and Safety Harbor Mayor Andy Steingold.