After serving almost nine years on the bench, former Maryland federal Judge George Hazel is joining Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where he says he’s looking forward to returning to the role of an advocate.

Hazel, who stepped down as a U.S. district judge for the District of Maryland on Feb. 24, will serve as a member of the firm’s litigation and white-collar defense and investigations practice groups in Washington, D.C.