Topeka ? A veteran Geary County district judge accused of misconduct has agreed to leave the bench in January.

Judge Larry Bengtson’s decision Tuesday settles a disciplinary case filed against him with the Commission on Judicial Qualifications. He signed an agreement, along with Ed Collister, a Lawrence attorney who serves as the commission’s examiner.

Collister filed a notice earlier this month alleging that Bengtson had filed expense vouchers for trips he never took. It also alleged that in March, he called a couple planning marriage before a judge, told them a judge wasn’t available and persuaded them to reschedule so that he could be paid for the ceremony.

In his agreement with Collister, Bengtson also promised to send a letter of apology to the couple.

His resignation date is Jan. 8, the day his current term expires.

However, it’s too late to remove his name from the Nov. 7 ballot for retention to the bench in the 8th Judicial District, which includes Geary, Dickinson, Marion and Morris counties.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will name a replacement after a local nominating commission screens applications.

Bengtson was appointed to the bench in December 1991 by then-Gov. Joan Finney after 22 years in a private law practice. He received his law degree in 1965 from Washburn University of Topeka.