CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Joseph Albright informed court officials Monday that he will not be able to return to the bench in January as planned.

Albright underwent an esophagectomy, a surgical procedure on his esophagus, in July. He sat out the fall term of court while he recovered. Albright told court officials Monday that doctors have not cleared him to return to work. He now hopes to return in a month or so.

Incoming Chief Justice Brent Benjamin announced Tuesday morning that Senior Status Justice Thomas McHugh will continue to fill in for Albright in the interim.

McHugh served one full term as a justice on the Supreme Court. He was re-elected in 1992, but retired from the bench in 1997.

The high court will have two new justices in the new year, Menis Ketchum and Margaret Workman. Both won seats on the court in the November election.