Coweta's Chief Superior Court Judge William F. Lee Jr. says he will retire amid an investigation by the state's judicial watchdog agency.

Lee announced Thursday he will retire May 1. He submitted his resignation to Gov. Nathan Deal.

The court filing says Lee was being investigated for allegedly engaging in improper communications with lawyers and entering orders in cases without notifying all parties and attorneys involved. He was also being investigated for assigning himself pending cases when he was otherwise disqualified.

Lee will become the seventh chief Superior Court judge to step down from the bench since 2010 while under investigation for ethical lapses.

Despite the investigation, the 69-year-old Lee says he is retiring on his own terms after nearly 32 years as a judge.

Tags: investigation, Governor Nathan Deal, Judge William F. Lee Jr., Coweta Chief Superior Cout Judge