By Lindsay Cates
A new judge has been appointed in the case of Nicholas Hansel, the former Washington and Lee University student facing drunk driving and manslaughter charges.
Judge Jay T. Swett will preside over a pre-trial review scheduled for Nov. 4 in Rockbridge County Circuit Court.
Swett is a retired chief judge of the Charlottesville Circuit Court. He specializes in local government, labor and employment and personal injury cases, according to the website of his law firm. Since his retirement, Swett has been appointed to take over several cases in the Charlottesville area.
In August, Judge Michael Irvine rejected a plea agreement struck between Hansel’s lawyers and Commonwealth’s Attorney Bucky Joyce. Irvine sealed the terms of the plea agreement and offered little explanation for his decision. He then removed himself from the case.
Hansel was the driver in the December 2013 crash that killed W&L senior Kelsey Durkin. Three other students of the 11 in the vehicle were seriously injured, authorities have said.
Hansel faces multiple charges including driving under the influence, involuntary manslaughter and maiming.