§ 28-30-2 - Appointment and terms of judges.
SECTION 28-30-2
§ 28-30-2 Appointment and terms of judges.– (a) Any workers' compensation commissioner who was appointed and confirmed andwho took the oath of that office and is holding that office on July 11, 1990shall continue to remain in the office of workers' compensation judge inaccordance with the general laws. The appointment and confirmation as workers'compensation judges and chief judge of those judges who took their oath ofoffice and are holding the office on July 11, 1990 is ratified and confirmed.
(b) Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of chief judgeof the workers' compensation court, or whenever the chief judge is unable byreason of illness to perform the duties of chief judge, then the chief justiceof the Rhode Island supreme court shall designate one of the judges of theworkers' compensation court who is present and qualifies to act to perform theduties of the chief judge until the vacancy is filled or the disabilityremoved. In the event that the chief judge determines that his or her absencefor reasons other than illness will prevent him or her from performing theduties of that office, then the chief judge shall designate a workers'compensation judge to perform those duties during the period of his or herabsence. The workers' compensation judges holding office on July 11, 1990 orsubsequently appointed shall have precedence according to the dates of theircommissions, or where the commissions of two (2) or more of them bear the samedate, according to their ages.
(c) With the approval of the chief judge, the judges of thecourt may appoint attorneys who are qualified as arbitrators under the courtannexed arbitration procedures to act as masters and make findings under thesupervision of the appointing judge. With the approval of the chief judge,unless specifically prohibited by chapter 27 of title 11, the judges mayauthorize the appearance of claims adjusters or lay representatives before themasters.
(d) Whenever any person appointed to the office of the chiefjudge or associate judge fails to accept and qualify for the office or there isa vacancy in the office caused by death, resignation, retirement, removal, orany other cause whatsoever while the senate is in session, the governor shallappoint some person to fill the vacancy, and submit his or her appointment tothe senate for confirmation in accordance with the general laws governingjudicial selection, including the provisions of chapter 16.1 of title 8.