§ 4 §164 — Duties of Chief Judge

The Chief Judge shall be responsible to and under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court for the operation of the District Court and shall serve as Chief Judge at the pleasure of the Chief Justice. To this end the Chief Judge shall:
1.
Hold court when necessary.
Hold court in any division when the Chief Judge determines it necessary by reason of illness, absence or disability of the judge regularly assigned or by reason of an excessive case load in any district;
1-A.
Appoint bail commissioners.
Appoint bail commissioners pursuant to Title 15, section 1023, for any district;
2.
Assign judges.
Assign judges to hold court in any division where, in the judgment of the Chief Judge, they are needed;
3.
Days and hours for holding court.
Fix the days and hours for holding court in each division;
4.
Vacations.
Determine the times for the taking of vacations by all district judges;
5.
Assign judges.
6.
Records and reports.
Prescribe, subject to the approval of the Chief Justice or the Chief Justice's delegate, the records to be kept and destroyed and the reports to be made by each district judge;
7.
Statistics.
Collect such statistics and other information pertaining to the business of the District Court as are requested by the Chief Justice or the Chief Justice's delegate;
8.
Budget.
Utilizing such assistance from the Administrative Office of the Courts as the Chief Judge may request, prepare and submit a proposed annual budget for the District Court to the Chief Justice or the Chief Justice's delegate;
9.
Report.
Render to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court an annual report on the state of business in the District Court and on the conferences held pursuant to subsection 11;
10.
Courtroom facilities.
Make necessary arrangements for proper courtroom facilities for all branches of the District Court pursuant to section 162; establish headquarters with appropriate facilities for the Chief Judge; and establish quarters and facilities for all District Court judges;
11.
Conference of judges.
Convene at least once annually at such place as the Chief Judge considers appropriate, a conference of District Court Judges to consider and take action upon or make recommendations with respect to current problems in the operation of the District Court. The expenses of District Court Judges attending this conference are an expense of the District Court;
12.
Violations bureau.
Notwithstanding any other statute or law, establish the violations bureau.
13.
Additional duties.
Perform such additional duties as may be assigned by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court;
14.
Powers reserved to the Supreme Judicial Court.
15.
Fisheries and wildlife bureau.
Establish in each division a fisheries and wildlife bureau. The Chief Judge shall appoint a clerk of the District Court in each division as violations clerk for the fisheries and wildlife bureau in that division.
16.
Development and implementation of administrative concepts.
Carry on a continuous survey and study of the organization, operation, condition of business, practice and procedure of the District Court and make recommendations to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court concerning the number of judges and other personnel required for the efficient administration of justice and examine, with the advice of the judges of the District Court, the status of dockets of the various District Courts to determine whether the business of the court is being carried out in an efficient manner. From such an examination, the Chief Judge shall annually make recommendations to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court for guidelines and policies for the scheduling and trial of matters before the District Court. In providing recommendations, the Chief Judge shall give due and appropriate regard to the recommendations of the judges and other personnel of the District Court and shall provide a mechanism whereby their individual recommendations and comments may be brought to the attention of the Chief Justice. The Chief Judge, in advising as to the appropriateness of the methods or the systems for scheduling trials and the management of matters before the District Court, shall take into consideration systems and methods operational in the Superior Court. The final decision as to the management of personnel and the implementation of guidelines, policies and procedures for the scheduling of trials and management of matters before the District Court must be made by the Chief Justice only after consultation with the Chief Judge;
17.
Marine resources bureau.
Establish in each division a marine resources bureau. The Chief Judge shall appoint a clerk of the District Court in each division as violations clerk for the marine resources bureau in that division.
18.
Forest service bureau.
Establish in each division a forest service bureau. The Chief Judge shall appoint the clerk of the District Court in each division as violations clerk for the forest service bureau.
19.
Annual training; domestic violence and child abuse issues.
Establish annual training and education designed to inform District Court Judges on domestic violence and child abuse, neglect and maltreatment issues.
Powers not enumerated in this section but necessary or desirable for the proper administration of the courts may, from time to time, be promulgated and assigned, by rule of the Supreme Judicial Court.

Legislative History

PL 1969, c. 299 (AMD). PL 1973, c. 625, §9 (AMD). PL 1975, c. 408, §§14-19 (AMD). PL 1975, c. 430, §§4,5 (AMD). PL 1975, c. 623, §§3-C (AMD). PL 1975, c. 731, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1975, c. 770, §12 (AMD). PL 1977, c. 392 (AMD). PL 1977, c. 544, §§7-10 (AMD). PL 1977, c. 696, §§22,23 (AMD). PL 1979, c. 541, §§A11,A12 (AMD). PL 1981, c. 414, §1 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 107 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 548, §2 (AMD). PL 1985, c. 481, §A4 (AMD). PL 1985, c. 506, §B2 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 758, §2 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 875, §E4 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 891, §A7 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 91 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 549, §3 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 549, §17 (AFF). PL 1991, c. 635 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 824, §A2 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 675, §§B5-8 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 680, §§A1-7 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 462, §§A3,4 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 414, §§B1-3 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 414, §D7 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 614, §9 (AFF). PL 2019, c. 475, §§43-46 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 723, §§3-5 (AMD).