U.S. District Chief Judge Lawrence F. Stengel of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is set to retire at the end of August, just over a year after taking the reins of the state’s most active federal court.

In a statement released Monday, the court announced Stengel, 66, will return to his native Lancaster County to work in private practice after 14 years on the federal bench. Stengel did not immediately return a call for comment.