1. (a) This section applies to the selection of the executive committee in 2026 to begin serving a term starting on January 1, 2027, and selection of each executive committee thereafter. An executive committee comprised of four (4) superior court judges is responsible for the administrative operation and conduct of the court. Of the four (4) judges approved to comprise the executive committee, not more than two (2) may be members of the same political party.
2. (b) Not later than November 15 of the final year of an executive committee's term, the full court shall meet to select four (4) candidates for the executive committee to start serving the next year. The candidates for the executive committee are selected by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the sitting judges who will hold office on January 1 of the next year. If all candidates for the executive committee cannot be filled by this two-thirds (2/3) vote, the member will be selected by the chair of the judicial selection committee established by section 13.1 of this chapter.

3. (c) The four (4) candidates selected under subsection (b) shall be submitted to the chair of the judicial selection committee for approval. Not later than December 15 in the year in which the executive committee members are selected, the chair of the judicial selection committee may:

   1. (1) allow each new executive committee member to submit an application for the chief judge position; and

   2. (2) interview each new executive committee member.

      The chair of the judicial selection committee shall consider the feedback of incumbent executive committee members and superior court judges in an executive session and shall select one (1) member of the executive committee as the chief judge. A vacancy of the chief judge position shall be filled by the procedure established under this subsection.

4. (d) If a vacancy occurs on the executive committee, not later than thirty (30) days after the vacancy exists:

   1. (1) a vote must be taken in the manner described in subsection (b) to select candidates to fill the vacancy; and
   2. (2) the candidates identified in subdivision (1) must be submitted to the chair of the judicial selection committee for approval.
5. (e) Starting January 1, 2027, a member of the executive committee serves for a term of three (3) years.
6. (f) The chair of the judicial selection committee may remove any member of the executive committee, including the chief judge, from the member's position on the executive committee for cause. The removal of a member from the executive committee under this subsection does not remove the member from judicial office.

7. (g) The full court shall do the following:

   1. (1) Select candidates for the executive committee under subsection (b).
   2. (2) Approve local rules.
   3. (3) Approve the court's annual caseload allocation plan.
   4. (4) Review reports from the chief judge and executive committee.
8. (h) All matters of trial dates, continuances, and subpoenas used for trial shall be determined by the trial judge in accordance with rules of the superior court. The executive committee shall perform duties required under this chapter as well as other duties as determined by rules of the court.

9. (i) The court shall, by rules of the court, divide the work of the court into various divisions, including but not limited to the following:

   1. (1) Civil.
   2. (2) Criminal.
   3. (3) Family.
10. (j) The work of each division shall be allocated by the rules of the court.
11. (k) The court shall keep appropriate records of rules, orders, and assignments of the court.

As added by P.L.76-2026, SEC.12.