When the district judges or judges of the district court of any judicial district in the state are authorized by law to appoint some person to fill a regular term or a vacancy in a public office and said judges fail to make an appointment within ten days after the expiration of a regular term or a vacancy occurs, the appointment shall then be made by the governor of the state.

L. 1945, ch. 191, § 1; L. 1976, ch. 145, § 239; January 10, 1977.