(A)

(1) If a vacancy occurs in the office of a judge of a county court that consists of only one judge or if the judge of a county court of that nature is incapacitated or unavailable due to disqualification, suspension, or recusal, the chief justice of the supreme court may assign a sitting judge of another court of record or a retired judge of a court of record to temporarily serve on the court in accordance with rules adopted by the supreme court pursuant to division (A)(1) of Section 5 of Article IV, Ohio Constitution. The assignee shall be styled "assigned judge" and shall serve for any period of time the chief justice may prescribe.

(2) If a judge of a county court that consists of only one judge is temporarily absent for a reason other than as specified in division (A)(1) of this section, the judge may do either of the following:

(a) Appoint a substitute who is a resident of the territory of the court or, if the territory of the court has a population of less than twenty-five thousand according to the latest federal decennial census and the judge is unable to appoint a substitute who is a resident of the territory of the court, appoint a substitute who is a resident of the territory of a municipal or county court that is contiguous to the court. The appointee shall either be admitted to the practice of law in this state and have been, for a total of at least six years preceding appointment, engaged in the practice of law in this state or a judge of a court of record in any jurisdiction in the United States or be a retired judge of a court of record. The appointee shall be styled "acting judge" and shall temporarily serve on the court during the temporary absence of the incumbent judge.

(b) Request the chief justice of the supreme court to assign a sitting judge of another court of record or a retired judge of a court of record to temporarily serve on the court in accordance with rules adopted by the supreme court pursuant to division (A)(1) of Section 5 of Article IV, Ohio Constitution. The assignee shall be styled "assigned judge" and shall serve for any period of time the chief justice may prescribe.

(B) If a vacancy occurs in the office of a judge of a county court that consists of two judges or if a judge of a county court of that nature is incapacitated, unavailable, or temporarily absent, the presiding judge may do either of the following:

(1) Appoint a substitute who is a resident of the territory of the court or, if the territory of the court has a population of less than twenty-five thousand according to the latest federal decennial census and the judge is unable to appoint a substitute who is a resident of the territory of the court, appoint a substitute who is a resident of the territory of a municipal or county court that is contiguous to the court. The appointee shall either be admitted to the practice of law in this state and have been, for a total of at least six years preceding appointment, engaged in the practice of law in this state or a judge of a court of record in any jurisdiction in the United States or be a retired judge of a court of record. The appointee shall be styled "acting judge" and shall temporarily serve on the court during the vacancy or the incapacity, unavailability, or temporary absence of the incumbent judge.

(2) Request the chief justice of the supreme court to assign a sitting judge of another court of record or a retired judge of a court of record to temporarily serve on the court in accordance with rules adopted by the supreme court pursuant to division (A)(1) of Section 5 of Article IV, Ohio Constitution. The assignee shall be styled "assigned judge" and shall serve for any period of time the chief justice may prescribe.

(C) If a vacancy occurs in the office of a judge of a county court that consists of three or more judges or if a judge of a county court of that nature is incapacitated, unavailable, or temporarily absent, the presiding judge may do either of the following:

(1) If no other judge of the court is available to perform the duties of the judge, appoint a substitute who is a resident of the territory of the court. The appointee shall either be admitted to the practice of law in this state and have been, for a total of at least six years preceding appointment, engaged in the practice of law in this state or a judge of a court of record in any jurisdiction in the United States or be a retired judge of a court of record. The appointee shall be styled "acting judge" and shall temporarily serve on the court during the vacancy or the incapacity, unavailability, or temporary absence of the incumbent judge.

(2) Request the chief justice of the supreme court to assign a sitting judge of another court of record or a retired judge of a court of record to temporarily serve on the court in accordance with rules adopted by the supreme court pursuant to division (A)(1) of Section 5 of Article IV, Ohio Constitution. The assignee shall be styled "assigned judge" and shall serve for any period of time the chief justice may prescribe

(D) An acting judge appointed pursuant to division (A)(2)(a), (B)(1), or (C)(1) of this section and an assigned judge assigned pursuant to division (A)(1), (A)(2)(b), (B)(2), or (C)(2) of this section shall have the jurisdiction and adjudicatory powers conferred upon the judge of the county court. During the time of service, the acting judge or assigned judge shall sign all process and records and shall perform all acts pertaining to the office, except that of removal and appointment of officers of the court. All courts shall take judicial notice of the selection and powers of the acting judge or assigned judge.

Added by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 261, §1, eff. 7/10/2014.