§ 21-1-307 - Special emergency judges. - Arkansas Statutes

21-1-307. Special emergency judges.

(a) In the event that any judge of any court is unavailable to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of his or her office and in the event no other judge authorized to act in the event of absence, disability, or vacancy or no special judge appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Arkansas Constitution or statutes is available to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office, the duties of the office shall be discharged and the powers exercised by the special emergency judges provided for in this section.

(b) (1) The Governor shall designate, for each member of the Supreme Court, special emergency justices in the number of not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) for each member of the court and shall specify the order of their succession.

(2) For each court of record except the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in consultation with the other members of the court shall designate special emergency judges in the number of not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) for each judge of the courts and shall specify the order of their succession.

(3) The judge of the circuit court shall designate not less than three (3) special emergency judges for courts not of record within that circuit and shall specify their order of succession.

(4) The designating authority shall review and revise, as necessary, designations made pursuant to this subchapter to ensure their current status.

(c) (1) The special emergency judges shall, in the order specified, exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office in case of the unavailability of the regular judge or judges or persons immediately preceding them in the designation.

(2) The special emergency judges shall discharge the duties and exercise the powers of the office until such time as a vacancy which may exist shall be filled in accordance with the Arkansas Constitution and statutes or until the regular judge or one preceding the designee in the order of succession becomes available to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office.