The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall be the administrative head of all courts in this State. He shall examine the administrative methods, systems and activities of the courts and their employees, examine the dockets of the several courts and require the courts and their employees to furnish to him such information as may be appropriate to assist in the administration of the courts. Within the framework of the requirements of § 14-3-390, he shall make all assignments of duties for the circuit judges and may, from time to time, transfer a circuit judge from one assignment to another, as such judge’s regularly assigned duties will permit and as the need appears. He shall have the right to call additional terms of court, to assign more than one judge to a circuit, if such additional judge’s regularly assigned duties will permit and if need appears, and generally to supervise the calendars of trial courts in the interest of the better administration of justice. In the event that there is a vacancy in the position of Chief Justice or for any reason the Chief Justice is unable to act, the powers and functions provided in this section shall be exercised by the senior associate justice.