The chief administrative officers of the department shall be the court administrator and the assistant court administrator. These officers shall each be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court for such times as he directs on either a full-time or part-time basis, and they shall perform such duties as are prescribed by the Chief Justice.

The Chief Justice shall appoint such other employees as are needed for the efficient conduct of the business of the department, subject, however, to the provisions of the State Merit System. Their compensation shall be fixed by the Chief Justice under the provisions of the State Merit System department as the salaries of other State Merit System employees are fixed, and such salaries shall be paid at the same time and in the same manner that salaries of such other state employees are paid.