RALEIGH, (AP) -  Gov. Beverly Perdue has appointed a retired judge A. Leon Stanback to serve as Durham county's interim district attorney while the current top prosecutor is suspended.

Stanback has agreed to step in while the issues involving District Attorney Tracey Cline are resolved Last week, a judge ruled that Cline should be suspended pending a hearing into whether she should be removed permanently from office.

A defense attorney has filed a motion seeking Cline's removal, saying her ongoing dispute with Judge Orlando Hudson has damaged the court's reputation.

A hearing on the request is scheduled for Feb. 13.