15-1-9.2 G
*** CODE SECTION ***  12/03/01
    
  15-1-9.2.
    
  (a) The office of senior judge of the superior courts is created,
  and judges of the superior courts or former judges of the superior
  courts may become senior judges as follows:
    
    (1) Any judge of the superior courts who retires pursuant to the
    provisions of Chapter 8 or Chapter 23 of Title 47 and any such
    judge who receives a disability retirement benefit under such
    chapter may become a senior judge beginning on the effective date
    of the judge's retirement; and
    
    (2) Any judge of the superior courts, whether or not said judge is
    a member of the retirement system created by Chapter 23 of Title
    47, who ceases holding office as a judge of the superior courts
    and who has at least ten years of service as a judge of the
    superior courts at the time of ceasing to hold office and who is
    not eligible for appointment to the office of senior judge under
    any other law of this state may become a senior judge.
    
  (a.1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this Code
  section, any Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, Judge of the
  Court of Appeals, superior court judge, state court judge,
  magistrate court judge, or juvenile court judge who ceases holding
  office as a judge and who has a total of ten years of service in any
  combination of such offices or a total of nine years of service in
  any combination of such offices plus at least one year of service as
  chairperson of the State Board of Workers' Compensation may become a
  senior judge.  Said combination must include at least five years'
  service as a Justice of the Supreme Court, Judge of the Court of
  Appeals, or judge of the superior court or at least five years as
  total served in combination as Justice of the Supreme Court, Judge
  of the Court of Appeals, or judge of the superior court.
    
  (a.2) Senior judge status as provided in this Code section shall be
  acquired by a qualified former judge's applying to the Governor for
  appointment as senior judge.  The Governor shall appoint each
  qualified applicant as a senior judge.
    
  (b) The chief judge of any appellate or superior court of this state
  may make a written request for assistance to a senior judge.  The
  request by the chief judge may be made if one of the following
  circumstances arise:
    
    (1) A judge of the requesting court is disqualified for any cause
    from presiding in any matter pending before the court;
    
    (2) A judge of the requesting court is unable to preside because
    of disability, illness, or absence; or
    
    (3) A majority of the judges of the requesting court determines
    that the business of the court requires the temporary assistance
    of an additional judge or additional judges as provided for in
    Code Section 15-1-9.1.
    
  (c) An active judge may call upon a senior judge to serve in an
  emergency or when the volume of cases or other unusual circumstances
  cause such service to be necessary in order to provide for the
  speedy and efficient disposition of the business of the circuit.
    (d)(1) Senior judges serving as judges of an appellate or superior
    court under this Code section or any other provision of law shall
    receive compensation from state funds for each day of service, in
    the amount of the annual state salary of a judge of the applicable
    court, divided by 235.  In addition to such compensation, such
    senior judges shall receive their actual expenses or, at the
    judge's option, in the event of service outside the county of the
    judge's residence, the same per diem expense authorized by law for
    members of the General Assembly and shall receive mileage at the
    same rate as other state employees for such services.  Such
    compensation, expenses, and mileage shall be paid from state funds
    appropriated or otherwise available for the operation of the
    appellate or superior courts, upon a certificate by the senior
    judge as to the number of days served or the expenses and mileage.
    Such compensation shall not affect, diminish, or otherwise impair
    the payment or receipt of any retirement or pension benefits, when
    applicable, of such judge.
    
    (2) Senior judges serving as judges of any court other than an
    appellate or superior court under this Code section or any other
    provision of law shall receive compensation for each day of
    service, in the amount of the annual salary of a judge of the
    applicable court, divided by 235.  In addition to such
    compensation, such senior judges shall receive their actual
    expenses or, at the judge's option, in the event of service
    outside the county of the judge's residence, the same per diem
    expense authorized by law for members of the General Assembly and
    shall receive mileage at the same rate as state employees for such
    services.  Such compensation, expenses, and mileage shall be paid
    from funds appropriated or otherwise available for the operation
    of the applicable court, upon a certificate by the senior judge as
    to the number of days served or the expenses and mileage.  Such
    compensation shall not affect, diminish, or otherwise impair the
    payment or receipt of any retirement or pension benefits, when
    applicable, of such judge.