State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > Vermont > Title-04 > Chapter-9 > 444
§ 444. Judges; number, appointment, limitations
(a) The district court shall have 17 district judges, one of whom shall be assigned to the special unit of the court as prescribed in section 436a of this title. The supreme court may establish no more than three territorial units for the assignment of district judges. In accordance with the direction of the supreme court, the administrative judge shall assign the district judges among the territorial units and shall establish a rotation schedule, both within and outside the unit to which the judges are regularly assigned. The rotation schedule shall be on file in the office of the clerk of each district court, and copies shall be furnished upon request. Only in a case where a district judge is disqualified or unable to attend any term of court or part thereof to which he or she has been assigned may the administrative judge assign another district judge to act as presiding judge at that term or part thereof and only for that period during which the assigned judge is disqualified or unable to attend.
(b) District judges shall be appointed in accordance with the constitution and chapter 15 of this title or retained in office under section 604(a) of this title. Terms of office of district judges, except in the case of an appointment to fill a vacancy or unexpired term, shall be for a term of six years from and including April 1 in the year of their appointment or retention. A district judge shall remain in office until a successor is appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed for cause or unless he or she resigns.
(c) A district judge shall devote full time to his duties. During his term he shall not practice law nor be the partner or associate of any person practicing law. (Added 1967, No. 194, § 9, eff. March 1, 1968; amended 1973, No. 107, § 1; 1975, No. 204 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1977, No. 232 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1979, No. 182 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; 1985, No. 98, § 5; 1985, No. 233 (Adj. Sess.); 1989, No. 68, § 11, eff. Dec. 1, 1989; 1999, No. 148 (Adj. Sess.), § 74, eff. May 24, 2000; 2003, No. 71 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
