5-9-119. Judges may hold court for each other; expenses of judge holding court in another circuit or district; disqualification of judge; change of venue prohibited; assignment of retired judges.

(a) The judges of the circuit courts may hold court for each other and shall do so when required by law. The expenses of any judge of a circuit court holding court in any circuit other than his own or in any district court pursuant to assignment under W.S. 5-3-112, including travel expenses and his expenses while holding court, shall be charged to the contingent fund of the circuit court in whose circuit he is holding court or to the contingent fund of the district court in whose district he is holding court pursuant to assignment under W.S. 5-3-112.

(b) A party to any action in circuit court may disqualify a circuit judge as provided by rules adopted by the supreme court for disqualification. Upon disqualification, or inability for any reason to fulfill his duties, the circuit judge shall appoint another circuit judge from his own or a different circuit or a district judge from his own or a different district, or a magistrate from the county in which the case is to be tried if no other circuit judge is available, to try the action.

(c) There shall be no change of venue for civil actions triable in circuit court.

(d) Any retired circuit court judge of this state who is not practicing law may, with his consent and the consent of the chief justice, at the request of a circuit court judge be assigned to hear a case in a circuit court as otherwise authorized by law. During any period of assignment, a retired circuit court judge shall receive as compensation an amount equal to the current compensation of a judge of the court to which he is assigned. The compensation received by a retired circuit court judge during any period of assignment shall not affect the receipt of any retirement allowance of the retired circuit court judge during the period of assignment. Assignments of retired circuit court judges under this section shall only be made in a manner that does not jeopardize the qualified status of state retirement plans established by the Wyoming legislature. When called to serve, a retired circuit court judge shall receive the same per diem and travel allowance as allowed active circuit court judges. Per diem allowances and compensation shall be paid from the contingent fund of the court to which the retired judge is assigned.