AMENDMENT 384 RATIFIED

Additional Probate Judgeship for Jefferson County.

In Jefferson county there shall be an additional probate judgeship, designated probate judgeship No. 2. Such judge shall be learned in the law, over the age of twenty-five years and a resident of the county for one year next preceding the date of taking office. The additional judgeship shall be filled by appointment by the governor within ten days after the approval of this amendment by the electors and proclamation of the governor. The appointee shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified as provided by Article VI. The judge for the additional judgeship shall be elected thereafter as are other probate judges in this state.

The existing probate judgeship in Jefferson county shall be designated judgeship No. 1. The present judge shall fill judgeship No. 1 and shall be the presiding judge. Candidates for the offices of probate judge in Jefferson county shall designate whether they are candidates for the office of the presiding judgeship which shall be designated probate judgeship No. 1 or for the office of probate judgeship No. 2.

The probate judge appointed or elected for probate judgeship No. 2 shall have and exercise all the jurisdiction, power, right and authority; he shall possess all of the qualifications, perform all of the duties required; and he shall be subject to all the pains and penalties of such office as any other such judge is subject to in Jefferson county.

The expense allowances and supplements of judgeship No. 2 shall be paid in the same manner and shall be in the same amount as that of the presiding probate judge in the county. The salary of judgeship No. 2 shall be in an amount equal to 95 percent of the salary of the presiding judge in the county.

The presiding judge of the probate court in Jefferson county shall have precedence and preside at any session of court which he attends. The presiding judge shall divide the work and business of the probate court among the judges and other employees of the court and shall assign the cases to the judges of said court. The presiding judge shall employ and appoint any and all clerks, clerical help and other assistants and court officers of the probate court allowed by law. The administrative powers and duties of the probate judges and the probate court shall be under the general authority, supervision and direction of the presiding judge. Whenever the probate judges cannot agree upon any administrative matter, the presiding judge shall decide and determine such administrative matter for said judges and the court.