SCIOTO COUNTY- The judge who oversaw much of the receivership matters of the old River Valley Hospital has died. Everett Burton was 78.

Burton, of Scioto County, had a private practice in Portsmouth before becoming Scioto County Prosecutor and later Municipal Court and then Common Pleas Judge there.

After his retirement, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Thomas Moyer appointed Burton to the Ohio Court of Claims, a position he held until July 2003.

Burton was appointed as a special judge to hear proceedings involving the defunct River Valley Hospital in Ironton after the hospital went into receivership and closed its doors. He also presided as special judge over other Lawrence County cases, including the 2001 proceedings against Elizabeth Keating, who pleaded guilty to shooting former business partner Debra Dickens and to stealing money from the Ironton Band Boosters.

A memorial service will be Saturday in Portsmouth.