1. The board of county commissioners of each county shall select a number of persons it determines appropriate to comprise a panel of substitute justices of the peace. The persons so selected must possess the qualifications set forth in NRS 4.010 for the office of justice of the peace in the respective county.

2. Whenever a justice of the peace is disqualified from acting in a case pending in the justice court or is unable to perform his or her official duties because of his or her temporary sickness or absence, or other cause, the justice of the peace shall, if necessary, appoint a person from the panel of substitute justices of the peace or, pursuant to NRS 4.340, invite another justice of the peace to act in his or her place.

3. A person appointed from the panel of substitute justices of the peace must take and subscribe to the official oath before acting as a justice of the peace pro tempore. While acting in that capacity, the justice of the peace pro tempore is entitled to receive a per diem salary set by the board of county commissioners. The annual sum expended for salaries of justices of the peace pro tempore must not exceed the amount budgeted for that expense by the board of county commissioners.

4. If an appointment of a justice of the peace pro tempore becomes necessary and the justice of the peace fails or is unable to appoint a person from the panel of substitute justices pursuant to this section and fails or is unable to obtain another justice of the peace pursuant to NRS 4.340, the chair of the board of county commissioners shall:

(a) In counties whose population is more than 100,000, appoint another justice of the peace pursuant to NRS 4.340 or a person from the panel of substitute justices of the peace pursuant to this section, to act in his or her place.

(b) In counties whose population is 100,000 or less, appoint another justice of the peace pursuant to NRS 4.340, a person from the panel of substitute justices of the peace pursuant to this section or a municipal judge pursuant to NRS 4.345, to act in his or her place.

(Added to NRS by 1991, 656)