Rule 1-305. Board of Senior Judges.

Intent:

To establish a Board of Senior Judges consisting of senior justices and senior judges of courts of record.

To prescribe the composition of the Board's membership, the method of selection of Board members, the members' terms of office, the Board's officers, the procedures to be followed in the event of vacancies, the frequency of Board meetings, and the procedures to be followed in the conduct of Board meetings.

To increase the level of participation of senior justices and senior judges in the development of policy for the judiciary.

To improve communication between the Council and senior justices and senior judges.

Applicability:

This rule shall apply to the Board of Senior Judges.

Statement of the Rule:

(1) For purposes of this rule, "senior judge" means active senior justice or active senior judge.

(2) Board of senior judges.

(2)(A) Establishment. There is established a Board of Senior Judges.

(2)(B) Membership. The Board shall be comprised of seven senior judges elected at the annual judicial conference senior judge business meeting by all senior judges who are in attendance at the meeting.

(2)(C) Election. The senior judges present at the business meeting shall constitute a quorum. Nominations for Board positions may be made by any senior judge. All senior judges present at the meeting shall be entitled to vote for all members of the Board.

(2)(D) Terms. The terms of the initial Board members shall be determined by lot, with four members selected to serve two-year terms and three members selected to serve one-year terms. Successors shall be elected for two-year terms.

(2)(E) Vacancies. If a vacancy occurs for any reason on the Board, the Board shall elect a replacement for the unexpired term of the vacancy.

(3) Board officers.

(3)(A) Establishment. There shall be a chair and vice-chair of the Board.

(3)(B) Chair's term. The chair shall serve a one-year term beginning immediately after the annual judicial conference in the year following election as vice-chair.

(3)(C) Chair's responsibilities. The chair shall preside over all meetings of the Board and the annual judicial conference senior judge business meeting, and shall perform other duties as set forth in this Code and as directed by the Board.

(3)(D) Vacancy in office of chair. In the event that the chair resigns or leaves the Board for any reason, the vice-chair shall become chair, serving both the unexpired term of the chair and the full term as chair.

(3)(E) Election. The vice-chair shall be elected by the Board members at the commencement of the first year of the vice-chair's two-year term on the Board.

(3)(F) Vice-chair's responsibilities. The vice-chair shall serve as chair in the absence of the chair or at the request of the chair.

(3)(G) Vacancy in office of vice-chair. In the event that the vice-chair resigns from the Board for any reason, a new vice-chair shall be elected by the Board from among its members to serve the unexpired term of the vice-chair and to succeed as chair as otherwise provided in this rule.

(3)(H) Secretariat services. The Administrative Office shall serve as secretariat to the Board.

(3)(I) Board responsibility. The Board shall exercise such authority and assume such responsibility as delegated by the Council.

(4) Meetings of the board.

(4)(A) The Board shall meet not less than twice a year to transact any and all business that is within its jurisdiction.

(4)(B) The Board shall rule by majority vote. All Board members have the right to vote. Four members of the Board constitute a quorum.

(4)(C) Board meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order and this Code.