(1) |
The Supreme Court consists of five justices. |
(2) |
(a) |
A justice of the Supreme Court shall be appointed initially to serve until the first general election held more than three years after the effective date of the appointment. |
(b) |
After the first term of appointment under Subsection (2)(a), the term of office of a justice of the Supreme Court is 10 years and commences on the first Monday in January following the date of election. |
(c) |
A justice whose term expires may serve upon request of the Judicial Council until a successor is appointed and qualified. |
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(3) |
(a) |
The justices of the Supreme Court shall elect a chief justice from among the members of the court by a majority vote of all justices. |
(b) |
The term of the office of chief justice is four years. |
(c) |
The chief justice may serve successive terms. |
(d) |
The chief justice may resign from the office of chief justice without resigning from the Supreme Court. |
(e) |
The chief justice may be removed from the office of chief justice by a majority vote of all justices of the Supreme Court. |
(f) |
The chief justice shall receive the sum of $2,000 per annum as additional compensation for the period served as chief justice. |
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(4) |
(a) |
If the justices are unable to elect a chief justice within 30 days of a vacancy in that office, the associate chief justice shall act as chief justice until a chief justice is elected under this section. |
(b) |
If the associate chief justice is unable or unwilling to act as chief justice, the most senior justice shall act as chief justice until a chief justice is elected under this section. |
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(5) |
In addition to the chief justice’s duties as a member of the Supreme Court, the chief justice has duties as provided by law. |
(6) |
(a) |
There is created the office of associate chief justice. |
(b) |
The term of office of the associate chief justice is two years. |
(c) |
The associate chief justice shall be:
(i) |
elected by a majority vote of the members of the Supreme Court; and |
(ii) |
allocated duties as the chief justice determines. |
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(d) |
If the chief justice is absent or otherwise unable to serve, the associate chief justice shall serve as chief justice. |
(e) |
The chief justice may delegate responsibilities to the associate chief justice as consistent with law. |
(f) |
The associate chief justice shall receive the sum of $1,000 per annum for the period served as associate chief justice. |
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Amended by Chapter 276, 2022 General Session