The busy district court office in Erie's second ward will be without an elected judge for the foreseeable future after incoming judge Bill Cole decided to resign the post.

The president judge and the court administrator are promising to continue staffing the office on Parade St. with retired senior judges, so pending court cases will not be delayed.

Cole, a former Erie County Democratic Party chair, ran unopposed to replace retiring judge Paul Urbaniak, but he was not successful in passing an exam needed to be certified for the job.

The seat is not up for election until 2021 unless Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf decides to appoint someone.

"From landlord tenant to criminal infractions to preliminary hearings, it's a busy ward," said Erie County President Judge John Trucilla. "The number of cases in that ward - there's a lot, so it's a demanding job. It's one that cant be taken lightly or understated."

Erie News Now reached out to Cole by phone and even knocked on his door, but we have been unable to reach him for comment.