1. Each judge of the circuit court hearing and determining small claims cases shall maintain a separate “small claims” docket and shall set aside and specify such times as may be reasonable and necessary for hearing “small claims” including, if necessary and desirable, Saturdays and evenings.

2. When such judge is hearing small claims matters, the court shall be known as “small claims court”.

3. Unless and until a case or cases filed under the small claims procedures herein provided are otherwise assigned by the presiding judge of the circuit or by local circuit court rule,

(1) In counties where there is only one resident associate circuit judge, such cases shall be filed with the clerk serving such judge and thereafter heard by him;

(2) In counties where there is more than one resident associate circuit judge, such cases shall be heard by such associate circuit judge or judges as may be provided by local circuit court rule, or in the absence of such rule, as may be appointed by the presiding judge of the circuit, and such cases shall be filed with the clerks serving such associate judges as are so designated, unless a centralized filing system for such cases be provided by local court rule.