1. Appointment. District Court Judges are appointed as follows. A. The Governor, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters and to confirmation by the Legislature, shall appoint to the District Court 42 judges, except that, beginning July 1, 2024, the Governor, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters and to confirmation by the Legislature, shall appoint to the District Court 44 judges. At least one judge must be appointed from each district who is a resident of a county in which the district lies, except that in District 3 there must be 2 judges appointed who are residents of a county in which the district lies; in District 6 there must be 2 judges appointed who are residents of a county in which the district lies; and in District 9 there must be 2 judges appointed who are residents of a county in which the district lies. Each District Court Judge has a term of office of 7 years. To be eligible for appointment as a District Judge, a person must be a member of the bar of the State. The term "District Judge" includes the Chief Judge and Deputy Chief Judge. [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. ZZZZ, §2 (AMD).] B. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court shall designate one of the judges as Chief Judge. The Chief Judge, with the approval of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, shall designate one of the District Court Judges as Deputy Chief Judge who has all the duties, powers and responsibilities of the Chief Judge when the Chief Judge is unable to perform them because of illness, absence or disability. [PL 1993, c. 675, Pt. B, §4 (AMD).] [PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. ZZZZ, §2 (AMD).] 2. Chief Judge; salary. The Chief Judge of the District Court is entitled to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998-99 and thereafter, of $94,000, to be paid biweekly. [PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §7 (AMD).] 3. Deputy Chief Judge; salary. The Deputy Chief Judge of the District Court is entitled to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998-99 and thereafter, of $92,000, to be paid biweekly. [PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §8 (AMD).] 4. Associate judge; salary. Each Associate Judge of the District Court shall receive a salary as follows: A. For fiscal year 1998-99 and thereafter, $90,000, to be paid biweekly. [PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §9 (RPR).] B. [PL 1989, c. 596, Pt. C, §§3, 8 (RP).] C. [PL 1989, c. 596, Pt. C, §§3, 8 (RP).] D. [PL 1989, c. 596, Pt. C, §§3, 8 (RP).] E. [PL 1989, c. 596, Pt. C, §§3, 8 (RP).] [PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §9 (AMD).] 4-A. Cost-of-living adjustment. The salaries of the associate judges shall be adjusted as established in Title 4, section 4, subsection 2-A. [PL 1989, c. 501, Pt. O, §§16, 22 (NEW).] 5. Expenses. Each judge must be reimbursed by the State, upon presentation to the State Controller of a detailed statement, for those expenses as established by judicial branch policy, actually and reasonably incurred in attending meetings and sessions of the court. Reimbursement for mileage must be paid at the rate paid state employees under Title 5, section 8. [PL 2007, c. 539, Pt. JJ, §2 (AMD).] 6. Full-time duties. A District Court Judge shall devote full time to that District Court Judge's judicial duties. During that District Court Judge's term of office, that judge may not practice law or be the partner or associate of any person in the practice of law. [RR 2021, c. 1, Pt. B, §4 (COR).] 7. Exception. The salary provisions of this section shall not apply to judges who have retired prior to December 1, 1984. [PL 1983, c. 863, Pt. B, §§7, 45 (RPR).]
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