§ 73 - Assignment - Vermont Statutes

§ 73. Assignment

(a) The supreme court may establish no more than three geographic divisions for the assignment of superior judges. In accordance with the direction of the supreme court, the administrative judge shall assign the superior judges among the geographic divisions and shall establish a rotation schedule, both within and outside the division to which the judges are regularly assigned. The rotation schedule shall be on file in the office of the clerk of each superior court, and copies shall be furnished upon request. Only in a case where a superior judge is disqualified or unable to attend any term of court or part thereof to which he has been assigned may the administrative judge assign another superior judge to act as presiding judge at that term or part thereof and only for that period during which the assigned judge is disqualified or unable to attend.

(b) Pursuant to section 21a of this title, the administrative judge shall specially assign superior judges to hear and determine family court matters. The administrative judge shall insure that such hearings are held promptly. Any contested divorce case which has been pending for more than one year shall be advanced for prompt hearing upon the request of any party.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this section, the administrative judge may, pursuant to section 21a of this title, specially assign a district court judge to family court to hear matters specified in subsection (b). (Amended 1971, No. 185 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. March 29, 1972; 1979, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 1981, No. 219 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1985, No. 63, § 3; 1999, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 72, eff. May 24, 2000.)