CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- A Douglas County judge has resigned and a deputy district attorney was fired over an alleged romantic relationship between the two, the Rocky Mountain News reported in its Friday editions.

Deputy District Attorney Laurie Steinman, 29, handled cases in Judge Grafton M. Biddle's county court, according to Carol Chambers, the district attorney for the 18th Judicial District.

Chambers told the newspaper that she fired Steinman on Dec. 22, but would not discuss specifics.

Biddle, 57, of Parker, Colo., resigned on Dec. 18, the newspaper said. His three-sentence resignation letter gave no reason for his decision. He had served six months of a two-year term.

Before he was appointed by Gov. Bill Owens, Biddle served in both the Attorney General and U. S. Attorney's offices, and was a deputy district attorney from 1981 to 1988.

The Eighteenth Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet on on Jan. 19, 2007, to interview and select nominees for appointment by the Governor to replace Biddle.