13 Administrative Order No. 13. Assignment of Superior Judges, Magistrates and Hearing Officers

Pursuant to the Vermont Constitution, Chapter II, §§ 30, 31 and 37, to provide for the efficient administration of justice in the District, Superior and Family Courts, the assignment of district and superior judges shall be as follows:

§ 1. The unified superior court is hereby divided into three geographic regions:

(a) The North region shall consist of Washington, Lamoille, Caledonia, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle and Orleans counties.

(b) The West region shall consist of Chittenden, Addison, Bennington and Rutland counties.

(c) The East region shall consist of Orange, Windsor and Windham counties.

§ 2. The Chief Superior Judge shall assign superior judges to the three geographic regions in accordance with the caseload requirements of each geographic region. Superior judges shall serve predominantly in the geographic region to which they are assigned.

§ 3. Each unit within a geographic region shall be divided into four functional divisions: a Criminal division, a Civil division, a Family division, and a Probate division. There shall also be an Environmental division which shall have statewide jurisdiction.

§ 4. The Chief Superior Judge shall assign superior judges to the Criminal, Civil and Family divisions within a geographic region. In making assignments, the Chief Superior Judge shall give consideration to the experience, temperament, and training and the needs of the court.

§ 5. In June of each year, the Chief Superior Judge shall submit to the Supreme Court for its approval proposed assignments for the ensuing year beginning September 1. These proposed assignments shall be governed by the following considerations:

(a) Existing caseload requirements should be met;

(b) Travel distances from the place of residence to the assigned courts should be minimized;

(c) Each functional division of a court should be served by at least two different judges over a three-year period, except the Probate division.

§ 6. The Chief Superior Judge may modify these assignments as a result of the disqualification, disability or death of a justice or judge, or because of the vacancy of a judicial office, or because the business of the court requires.

§ 7. The Chief Superior Judge shall assign magistrates and hearing officers to the three geographic regions in accordance with the caseload requirements of each geographic region. Magistrates and hearing officers shall serve predominantly in the geographic region to which they are assigned.