(a) Such supernumerary clerk or register of the circuit court in the various counties of the State of Alabama shall take the oath of office prescribed for clerks and registers of the circuit courts in this state.
state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(b) If a vacancy shall occur in the office of clerk or register in the county in which one or more supernumerary clerks or registers hold a commission, the Chief Justice shall immediately appoint one such supernumerary from the county in which such vacancy occurs, and such supernumerary so appointed shall immediately assume and exercise all of the duties, powers and authority of such official in said county until a permanent successor is appointed or is otherwise selected. All fees and commissions which may become due while such supernumerary is so acting shall be paid into the appropriate fund as designated by law, and the salaries of the employees in such office shall be paid by the State of Alabama during such period.
