L-ARLJ.02
                       PRESIDING JUDGE
            Presiding Judge and Court Governance


(a)  Election, Term, Vacancies, Removal and Selection Criteria

     (1)  Election.  The Presiding Judge shall be elected by
          majority vote of the Grant County District Court judges for
          a term of not less than two years.  In the same manner, the
          judges shall elect an Assistant Presiding Judge of the court
          who shall serve as Acting Presiding Judge during the absence
          or upon the request of the Presiding Judge and who shall
          perform such further duties as the Presiding Judge shall
          direct.  If the judges fail or refuse to elect a Presiding
          Judge or Assistant Presiding Judge, the Presiding Judge then
          in office shall notify the Supreme Court of said failure or
          refusal and the Supreme Court shall appoint a Presiding
          Judge or Assistant Presiding Judge pursuant to GR 29(a)(1).

     (2)  Term.  The Presiding Judge shall be elected for a term
          of not fewer than two years, subject to reelection.  The
          term of the Presiding Judge shall commence on January 1 of
          the year in which the Presiding Judge’s term begins.

     (3)  Vacancies.  Interim vacancies of the office of
          Presiding Judge or Acting Presiding Judge shall be filled as
          provided in (a)(1).

     (4)  Removal.  The Presiding Judge may be removed by a
          majority vote of the judges of the court.

     (5)  Selection Criteria.  A Presiding Judge must have at
          least four years of experience as a judge, unless this
          requirement is waived by a majority vote of the judges of
          the court.  Selection of a Presiding Judge should be based
          on the judge’s

          a)   Management and administrative ability

          b)   Interest in serving in the position.

          c)   Experience and familiarity with a variety of trial
               court assignments, and

          d)   Ability to motivate and educate other judicial officers
               and court personnel.

     (6)  Notification of Chief Justice.  The Presiding Judge so
          elected shall send notice of the election of the Presiding
          Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge to the Chief Justice of
          the Supreme Court within 30 days of election.

     (7)  Caseload Adjustment.  To the extent possible, the
          judicial caseload should be adjusted to provide the
          Presiding Judge with sufficient time and resources to devote
          to the management and administrative duties of the office.

     (8)  General Responsibilities.  The Presiding Judge is
          responsible for leading the management and administration of
          the court’s business, recommending policies and procedures
          that improve the court’s effectiveness, and allocating
          resources in a way that maximizes the court’s ability to
          resolve disputes fairly and expeditiously.

     (9)  Duties and Authority.  The judicial and administrative
          duties set forth in this rule cannot be delegated to persons
          in either the legislative or executive branches of
          government.  A Presiding Judge may delegate the performance
          of ministerial duties to court employees; however, it is
          still the Presiding Judge’s responsibility to ensure they
          are performed in accordance with this rule.  In addition to
          exercising general administrative supervision over the
          court, the Presiding Judge shall:

          a) Supervise the business of the court and
             judicial officers in such manner as to ensure
             the expeditious and efficient processing of all
             cases and equitable distribution of the
             workload among judicial officers;

          b) Assign judicial officers to hear cases pursuant
             to statute or rule.  The court may establish
             general policies governing the assignment of judges;

          c) Coordinate judicial officers’ vacations,
             attendance at education programs, and similar matters;

          d) Develop and coordinate statistical and
             management information;

          e) Supervise the daily operation of the court including:

             1) All personnel assigned to perform court functions; and

             2) All personnel employed under the
                judicial branch of government including but
                not limited to working conditions, hiring,
                discipline, and termination decisions except
                wages, or benefits directly related to wages; and

             3) The Court Administrator, who shall
                report directly to the Presiding Judge.  (see.03)

          f) Supervise the court’s accounts and audit the
             procurement and disbursement of appropriations
             and preparation of the court’s annual budget request;

          g) Appoint standing and special committees of
             judicial officers necessary for the proper
             performance of the duties of the court;

          h) Promulgate local rules as a majority of
             the judges may approve or as the Supreme Court
             shall direct;

          i) Supervise the preparation and filing of reports
             required by statute and court rule;

          j) Act as the official spokesperson for the
             court in all matters with the executive or
             legislative branches of state and local
             government and the community unless the
             Presiding Judge shall designate another judge
             or employee to serve in this capacity;

          k) Preside at meetings of the judicial
             officers of the court;

          l) Determine the qualifications of and
             establish a training program for pro tem judges
             and pro tem court commissioners; and

          m) Perform other duties as may be assigned by
             statute or court rule.

     10)  Enabling Authority.  The Presiding Judge shall have
          the general responsibilities, duties and authority
          set forth in GR 29.


[Amended effective September 1, 2004]