Chief Administrative Judge A. Gail Prudenti Monday announced the appointment of Justice Peter H. Moulton (See Profile) as administrative judge of the Manhattan Supreme Court's civil term.

Moulton succeeds Justice Sherry Klein Heitler (See Profile), who is taking on the role of the court system's chief of policy and planning. The appointments will take effect immediately.

Moulton will also take over as the coordinator of the New York City Asbestos Litigation, a special court that presides over hundreds of claims from plaintiffs who say they were injured by exposure to asbestos. Heitler has been NYCAL's coordinator since August 2008 and administrative judge for the civil term since December 2009.