1. (1)

   1. (a) In judicial districts having more than one justice court judge, the justice court judges shall elect one judge of the district to the office of presiding judge.
   2. (b) The presiding judge shall receive an additional $2,000 per annum as compensation from the Justice Court Technology, Security, and Training Account described in Section 78A-7-301 for the period served as presiding judge.

2. (2)

   1. (a) In judicial districts having more than two justice court judges, the justice court judges may elect one judge of the district to the office of associate presiding judge.
   2. (b) The associate presiding judge shall receive an additional $1,000 per annum as compensation from the Justice Court Technology, Security, and Training Account described in Section 78A-7-301 for the period served as associate presiding judge.

3. (3) The presiding judge has the following authority and responsibilities, consistent with the policies of the Judicial Council:

   1. (a) working with each justice court judge in the district to implement policies and rules of the Judicial Council;
   2. (b) exercising powers and performing administrative duties as authorized by the Judicial Council;
   3. (c) if there is no other appointed justice court judge in that court available, assigning a justice court judge to hear a case in which a judge has been disqualified in accordance with rules of the Supreme Court;

   4. (d) if a justice court judge of the district cannot perform the justice court judge's duties in a case or cases due to illness, death, or other incapacity, and the governing body has not appointed a temporary justice court judge in accordance with Section 78A-7-208:

      1. (i) assigning, on an emergency basis, a justice court judge to hear a case or cases; and
      2. (ii) facilitating judicial coverage with the appointing municipal or county authority until a temporary justice court judge can be appointed, in accordance with Section 78A-7-208, or a new justice court judge is formally appointed and takes office, in accordance with Section 78A-7-202; and
   5. (e) entering orders of expungement in cases expunged in accordance with Title 77, Chapter 40a, Part 2, Automatic Expungement and Deletion.

4. (4)

   1. (a) When the presiding judge is unavailable, the associate presiding judge shall assume the responsibilities of the presiding judge.
   2. (b) The associate presiding judge shall perform other duties assigned by the presiding judge.

Amended by Chapter 180, 2024 General Session