NASHVILLE (AP) - State Supreme Court Justice Bill Koch plans to retire from the bench next year to become dean of the Nashville School of Law.

Koch, who has served on the state's highest court since 2007, said he plans to step down in July.

Koch was appointed to the Supreme Court by then-Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, after a prolonged legal spat with the panel that presents three-candidate slates to the governor to choose from.

Bredesen was upset at the members of the panel for trying to tip the balance of their preferred Democratic candidate. He instead chose Koch, a Republican, to fill the vacancy.

Koch previously served on the state Court of Appeals and was once legal counsel to then-Gov. Lamar Alexander.