This provision lets eligible retired judges apply to become senior judges, requires the Chief Justice to appoint qualified applicants, and bars judges retired for disability from being appointed.
(a) Any circuit court judge or district court judge who has served for 10 or more years in any combination of service as a judge of the circuit court or district court in this state and who retires pursuant to Chapter 18 of this title, may be appointed as a senior judge. A circuit court judge or district court judge who retires because of a disability may not be appointed as a senior judge. (b) Any eligible retired judge may apply to the Chief Justice for appointment as a senior judge and the Chief Justice shall appoint each qualified applicant as a senior judge. (c) A senior judge may be called upon to serve as a justice or judge in any court of this state pursuant to a written request for assistance from the presiding judge of the requesting court made to the Chief Justice. A request for assistance may be made in any of the following situations: (1) When a judge of the requesting court is disqualified for any cause from presiding in a matter pending before the requesting court. (2) When a judge of the requesting court is unable to preside in the requesting court because of disability, illness, or absence. (3) When the business of the requesting court requires the temporary assistance of an additional judge or additional judges. (d) A senior judge is bound by the same ethical standards as other judges and justices in the state and may be disciplined or have his or her senior judge status withdrawn the in same manner as other judges and justices are disciplined or removed from office. (e) A senior judge appointment by the Chief Justice to fulfill a specific request made by a presiding judge shall receive no compensation but shall receive the same per diem expenses and mileage as state employees paid from funds appropriated to the Unified Judicial System.