NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Both chambers of the General Assembly have agreed to form a special committee to study whether lawmakers should remove a prosecutor who corresponded with a convict on her legal case.

The House and Senate will each name five members to the panel on whether the conduct of District Attorney Bill Gibson warrants his removal from the position responsible for Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam and White counties.

Gibson's law license was suspended in 2006 after he wrote letters giving legal advice and spiritual counseling to a convicted murderer prosecuted by his office.

"I'm sort of caught between the will of the people and the will of the legislature here, and I trust the legislature to do the right thing," Gibson said.

Lawmakers estimate Gibson has been paid more than $190,000 since then even though he can't work on legal cases.

Lawmakers will hear evidence about Gibson on April 28. After that, the committee must decide whether to proceed with an ouster vote.