(1) Civil cases. All civil cases shall be assigned randomly by the Office of the Circuit Court Clerk (“Clerk”) using the random judge assignment software.

(2) Criminal/Traffic cases: All criminal and traffic cases shall be assigned initial court dates by the Clerk according to the date listed on the summons, citation, citation, or pretrial release for cases where the defendant is not in custody. The Clerk shall assign initial traffic and criminal cases to the next available arraignment date for cases where the defendant is in custody. However, the Clerk shall make every attempt to set co-defendants in the same division and to set new cases for a pending defendant in the same division for judicial efficiency.

(1) Criminal Cases. Regardless of the assignment of a proceeding to a particular division, the Judge of either division may, in the absence of the other, exercise jurisdiction and sign any order or entertain any proceeding requiring immediate attention when the Judge to which said proceeding is assigned is not readily available or is incapacitated to enter said order. This shall include search warrants, arrest warrants, bench warrants, summons, setting of bond, preliminary hearings, detention of juveniles, and any other matter requiring expeditious treatment.

(2) Civil Cases. Regardless of the assignment of a case to a particular division, the Judge of either division may in the absence of the other Judge sign a restraining order or other order needed for any temporary extraordinary relief until such matter can be considered by the Judge of the division to which said case has been assigned, provided the applicant's rights are being or will be violated and he or she will suffer immediate and irreparable injury by delay, as shown by verified complaint, affidavit or sworn proof. In like circumstances, either judge may sign Emergency Involuntary Requests for Evaluation or Hospitalization.