A. The Presiding Judge is the Chief Administrative Officer of the Courts. All statutory, case law, or court rule references to Chief Judge shall be synonymous with Presiding Judge unless indicated otherwise by these rules, i.e., Chief Judge Family, Chief Judge Criminal, Chief Judge Civil, Chief Judge Juvenile.

B. Presiding Judge-Elect. The District and Associate District Judges of the District shall elect a Presiding Judge-Elect in January 2003 and thereafter in January of even-numbered years.

C. Presiding Judge. At the end of the term of the Presiding Judge, the Presiding Judge-Elect shall automatically become the Presiding Judge for a two-year term commencing in January of even-numbered years.

D. If the office of Presiding Judge becomes vacant before the expiration of the regular two-year term, the Presiding Judge-Elect shall become the Presiding Judge for the balance of the remaining term and shall then automatically become Presiding Judge as set forth in § C above.

E. If the office of Presiding Judge-Elect becomes vacant before the expiration of the regular two-year term, the District and Associate District Judges of the District shall elect a new Presiding Judge-Elect for the balance of the two-year term.

F. Acting Presiding Judge--In the absence of the Presiding Judge, the Presiding Judge-Elect shall serve as Acting Presiding Judge with the full authority of the Presiding Judge. If the Presiding Judge-Elect is also absent, the Presiding Judge shall designate an Acting Presiding Judge to act with the full authority of the Presiding Judge.