(2) Upon receipt of the written application of any judge, the Supreme Court may grant the judge a leave of absence without salary for a period of not more than one year. The Supreme Court may grant a leave of absence only if the court is satisfied that the administration of justice in Oregon will be enhanced by granting the leave. Application for a leave of absence is considered a waiver of salary by the applicant for the period of time the applicant is absent under the leave granted by the court.

(3) A leave of absence shall be granted by order of the Supreme Court. The order shall state the maximum period of time for which the leave is granted. Promptly after the granting of the leave, the State Court Administrator shall cause a certified copy of the order granting the leave to be sent to the Secretary of State and the Public Employees Retirement Board.

(4) At the termination of leave of absence under this section, unless the judge sooner dies or resigns, a judge shall resume the duties of office and cause written notice of the resumption to be sent to the Supreme Court, the Secretary of State and the Public Employees Retirement Board. The resumption and sending notice thereof constitutes a termination of the leave whether or not the full maximum period of time granted has expired.

(5) Absence on leave by a judge under this section does not create a vacancy in the office to which the judge was elected or appointed, nor is the judge subject to removal as a consequence thereof.

(6) Absence on leave under this section by a judge who is a member of the Public Employees Retirement System under ORS chapter 238 does not break the continuity of the membership of the judge in the system. [1965 c.12 §1; 1969 c.198 §19; 1971 c.193 §8; 1991 c.815 §2]