A Saskatchewan provincial court judge has been removed from his court duties after being charged with two counts of assault.

Judge Donald Bird has not sat in court since Dec. 4, 2008.

That's when Chief Judge of Provincial Court Carol Snell learned Bird was the subject of a criminal investigation, Snell said in a news release.

She didn't say who Bird is accused of assaulting.

Bird has also been charged with two counts of making threats.

He's been "unassigned," meaning he's not sitting in court or hearing cases.

The charges are in connection with incidents that allegedly happened last May in Meadow Lake, where Bird was presiding.

Bird was appointed to the bench in May 2006. He is a member of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation.

He's scheduled to appear in court in North Battleford on Feb. 5.

In addition to the criminal proceeding, the Saskatchewan Judicial Council is looking into the matter, Snell said.