The attorney representing a Butler County judge accused of judicial misconduct sought more time last week to prepare a response to the charges, saying he needed an extension to obtain medical information on his client.

The state Judicial Conduct Board last month charged Judge William R. Shaffer with misconduct for lengthy delays in deciding cases. He was to respond to the charges last week, but his attorney, Vincent J. Grogan of Pittsburgh, asked for an extension to July 8.

The extension is virtually guaranteed because it is uncontested by Joseph A. Massa Jr. chief counsel for the Judicial Conduct Board.

The board had filed four counts of judicial misconduct against Shaffer on May 13, accusing him of "unreasonable and unjustifiable" delays in nine divorce matters. In three cases, he waited nearly three years to render a verdict.

Grogan told the Court of Judicial Discipline in Harrisburg in his motion for an extension that Shaffer, who has been on the bench since January 2000, will answer those allegations fully. The motion notes the extension is necessary because "additional information is being sought from providers of medical services to [the judge.]"

Following Shaffer's response, the next step would be the appointment of a conference judge who would schedule a pretrial status conference to gauge the direction of the case. It could end in an agreement or a trial before a panel of judges of the Court of Judicial Discipline. If found to have violated the conduct rules, sanctions could be imposed against Shaffer ranging from reprimand to removal from the bench.

The Judicial Conduct Board files an average of six complaints per year.