§ 16-13-3103 - Judges and chancellors.

16-13-3103. Judges and chancellors.

(a) The qualified electors of the Twenty-second Judicial District shall elect:

(1) One (1) chancery judge of the First Division;

(2) One (1) circuit-chancery judge of the Second Division; and

(3) One (1) circuit-chancery judge of the Third Division.

(b) The qualified electors of the Seventh Judicial District shall elect:

(1) One (1) circuit-chancery judge of the First Division; and

(2) One (1) circuit-chancery judge of the Second Division.

(c) (1) (A) The chancery judge and circuit-chancery judges of the Twenty-second Judicial District may, by agreement, hold either of the circuit or chancery courts in their respective districts and may hear and try matters pending in any of those courts or may hear or try matters in the same court at the same time.

(B) The judges subject to subdivision (c)(1)(A) of this section may adopt such rules as they deem appropriate for the assignment of cases in the circuit and chancery courts of their judicial district.

(2) (A) The circuit-chancery judges of the Seventh Judicial District may, by agreement, hold either of the circuit or chancery courts in their respective districts and may hear and try matters pending in any of those courts or may hear or try matters in the same court at the same time.

(B) The judges subject to subdivision (c)(2)(A) of this section may adopt such rules as they deem appropriate for the assignment of cases in the circuit and chancery courts of their judicial district.

(d) (1) (A) The judge of the Second Division in each district shall be the judge of the juvenile division of chancery court.

(B) The judge shall serve as judge of the juvenile division in lieu of the judge who would otherwise be designated as judge of the juvenile division of chancery court in the judicial district.

(2) The judge of the Second Division in each district shall devote such time as may be required to perform the duties of judge of the juvenile division, which duties shall be the primary obligation of the judge, and shall sit as judge of the circuit, chancery, or probate court as time permits.

(e) (1) Effective January 1, 2009, there is created in the Twenty-second Judicial District an additional circuit judgeship that shall have jurisdiction in law, equity, probate, and juvenile matters.

(2) (A) The qualified electors of the district shall elect the additional circuit judge created by subdivision (e)(1) of this section at the 2008 preferential primary election to take office on January 1, 2009.

(B) The additional circuit judge shall be elected from the district, shall satisfy the same qualifications for holding office, and shall receive the same salary, expenses, and other allowances as provided by law for judges of the circuit courts.

(C) The circuit judge shall serve for elected terms of six (6) years.

(3) The county that composes the Twenty-second Judicial District shall provide courtroom and office facilities and supplies for the judge of the circuit judgeship created by subdivision (e)(1) of this section, which shall be paid out of the county treasury in the same manner as other demands against the county and out of funds appropriated by the quorum court of the county for these purposes.

(4) There shall be provided for the judge of the circuit judgeship created by subdivision (e)(1) of this section a court reporter and a trial court administrative assistant whose salaries shall be fixed and paid in the manner provided by law for court reporters and trial court administrative assistants of the circuit courts of this state.