ORS 1.003: Chief Justice’s powers to appoint Chief Judge and presiding judges; terms; disapproval of appointment.

(1) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall appoint after conferring with and seeking the advice of the Supreme Court, and may remove at pleasure: (a) The Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals. (b) The presiding judge for each judicial district. (2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, the term of office of the Chief Judge or presiding judge is two years, commencing on January 1 of each even-numbered year. A judge is eligible for reappointment as Chief Judge or presiding judge. (3) If there is a vacancy for any cause in the office of Chief Judge or presiding judge: (a) When the vacancy occurs after January 1 of an even-numbered year and before July 1 of the following odd-numbered year, the Chief Justice shall make an appointment for a term expiring December 31 of that odd-numbered year. (b) When the vacancy occurs after June 30 of an odd-numbered year and before January 1 of the following even-numbered year, the Chief Justice shall make an appointment for a term expiring December 31 of the odd-numbered year following that even-numbered year. (c) The Chief Justice may designate a judge of the Court of Appeals to serve as acting Chief Judge until an appointment is made as provided in this section. The Chief Justice may designate any circuit court judge to serve as acting presiding judge until an appointment is made as provided in this section. (4) Before appointing a Chief Judge or presiding judge the Chief Justice shall confer with and seek the advice of the judges of the courts concerned in respect to the appointment. (5) The Chief Justice shall give written notice of the judge appointed as Chief Judge or presiding judge to each judge of the court concerned not later than 10 days before the effective date of the appointment. A majority of the judges of the courts concerned may disapprove the appointment by a written resolution signed by each judge disapproving the appointment and submitted to the Chief Justice before the effective date of the appointment. If the appointment is so disapproved, the Chief Justice shall appoint another judge as Chief Judge or presiding judge, and shall notify each judge of the courts concerned as provided in this subsection. If the courts concerned have five or more judges, a second appointment is subject to disapproval, as provided in this subsection, by a majority of the judges of the courts concerned. A third appointment is not subject to disapproval under this subsection. [1981 s.s. c.1 §4; 1995 c.658 §7; 1995 c.781 §3; 2013 c.155 §2]