LAR 1.
                            Presiding Judge.


     1.1 Election.  Pursuant to General Rule 29(a)(1), Rules
of Court (GR 29(a)(1)) the elected Superior Court Judges
shall elect a Presiding Judge and an Assistant Presiding
Judge by majority vote at a meeting of the Judges to be held
in October December of odd numbered years.
Comment: the idea is to give some lead time for scheduling
and transition.

     1.2 Term.  The terms of the Presiding Judge and
Assistant Presiding Judge shall be for two years beginning
January 1 of the even numbered year after their election.

     1.3 Vacancy.  A vacancy in the office of the Presiding
Judge shall be filled by the then Assistant Presiding Judge.
A vacancy in the office of Assistant Presiding Judge shall
be filled by majority vote of the elected Superior Court
Judges at the first meeting of Judges to be held after the
vacancy is known to exist.  Judges filling vacancies shall
serve until January 1 of the next even numbered year.

     1.4 Duties and Responsibilities.  The duties of the
Presiding Judge and Assistant Presiding Judge shall be as
provided in GR 29.  Unless otherwise provided herein, GR 29
shall apply.

Comment:  With this change the rest of 1.4 and all of 1.5
and 1.6 could be deleted.

The Presiding Judge shall supervise the judicial business of
the Court as authorized and directed in GR29(e)(f) and (h).
The Assistant Presiding Judge shall serve as Acting
Presiding Judge during the absence of or upon request of the
Presiding Judge, and shall perform such further duties as
the Presiding Judge or the majority of the elected Judges
shall direct.

     1.5 Qualifications.  Selection of a Presiding Judge
should be based on the Judge's (1) management and
administrative ability, (2) interest in serving in the
position, (3) experience and familiarity with a variety of
trial court assignments, and (4) ability to motivate and
educate other Judicial Officers and court personnel.  The
Presiding Judge shall have at least four years of experience
as a Judge, unless this requirement is waived by a majority
vote of the elected Judges of the Court.

     1.6 Removal.  The Presiding Judge may be removed by a
majority vote of the elected Judges of the Superior Court.

     1.7 Interim Term.  Since the effective date of GR 29 is
April 30, 2002, the Presiding Judge and the Acting Presiding
Judge shall be elected by majority vote of the Judges of the
Lewis County Superior Court upon adoption of this Rule and
shall serve in the interim until January 1, 2004.