judges as elected in each circuit on the effective date of this constitution are retained, subject to change by law enacted by two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature.

terms as it shall provide and subject to subsequent modification, delegate, in whole or in part, to a court, including the appellate division of the supreme court, or to the chief administrator of the courts, any power possessed by the legislature to regulate practice and procedure in the courts. The chief administrator of the courts shall exercise any such power delegated to him or her with the advice and consent of the administrative board of the courts. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the adoption of regulations by individual courts consistent with the general practice and procedure as provided by statute or general rules.

enact appropriate laws to carry into effect the purposes and provisions of this article, and may, for the purpose of implementing, supplementing or clarifying any of its provisions, enact any laws, not inconsistent with the provisions of this article, necessary or desirable in promoting the objectives of this article.

law. The courts shall constitute a unified judicial system for operation and administration. Judicial districts shall be established by law.

both inclusive, as those districts are described in art. XIV of the state constitution on March 19, 1959; Second District: the area within election districts numbered 21 to 23, both inclusive, and those areas of election districts 18 and 20 within the boundaries of the North Slope Borough, as those districts are described in art. XIV of the state constitution on March 19, 1959; Third District: the area within election districts numbered seven to 15, both inclusive, as those districts are described in art. XIV of the state constitution on March 19, 1959, and the portion of election district 19, as that district is described in art. XIV of the state constitution on March 19, 1959, that is in the Glennallen Venue District on March 1, 2002, described as follows: Beginning at a point on the divide between the watersheds of the Tanana River and the Copper River south of the headwaters of Totschunda Creek; thence southwesterly in a straight line first crossing the Nabesna River to Mt. Allen; thence meandering on the divide mountain peak to mountain peak to a point north of Regal Mountain on the divide separating the Nabesna Glacier from the Chisana Glacier; thence westerly and northwesterly along the divide between the watersheds of the Tanana River and Copper River as it meanders from mountain peak to mountain peak back to a point on the divide south of the headwaters of the Totschunda Creek, the place of the beginning; and Fourth District: the area within election districts numbered 16, 17, and 24, the areas of election districts numbered 18 and 20 not included in the second district, and the area of election district numbered 19 not included in the third district, as those districts are described in art. XIV of the state constitution on March 19, 1959.

and administration of these programs. Alcohol and drug treatment programs must include local judges and must be community based and operated separately from juvenile drug courts.

Court may adopt administrative orders and court rules of practice and procedure as necessary.

the peace. The Legislature may also establish, as part of the system, courts for municipal purposes only in incorporated cities and towns.

court and may prescribe its jurisdiction.

a District Court Division.

of the Administrative Office of the Courts shall provide any necessary staff for planning, organizing, and administering the program. Local drug treatment court programs funded pursuant to this Article shall be operated consistently with the guidelines adopted pursuant to G.S. 7A-795. Local drug treatment court programs established and funded pursuant to this Article may consist of adult drug treatment court programs, juvenile drug treatment court programs, family drug treatment court programs, or any combination of these programs.

law.

remedial writs necessary to properly exercise jurisdiction in cases assigned to them. The panels of the temporary court of appeals are subject to administration by the supreme court pursuant to sections 3 and 8 of article VI of the Constitution of North Dakota.

each county are abolished. 2. District court judgeships are established on January 2, 1995, in number equal to the number of county judges serving the county courts on January 1, 1991, or the number of county judges serving the county courts on January 1, 1994, whichever is the lesser number. . . . All statutes relating to the district court apply to the district court judgeships established pursuant to this subsection, except as otherwise provided by this section. 3. The supreme court shall designate by rule, prior to January 1, 1994, the judicial district for each additional district court judgeship established pursuant to subsection 2. The judicial district designated by the supreme court for each district court judgeship established pursuant to subsection 2 is the area of election for that office at the general election in 1994. . . .

county in the state. The supreme court may provide such services through clerks of district court, deputies, and assistants who are employees of the judicial system or through service agreements under subsection 6. The supreme court shall develop standards and procedures to ensure that adequate clerk of district court services are provided. “Clerk of district court services” means those duties and services, as provided by statute or rule of the supreme court, that directly serve the judicial system and the provision of effective and efficient judicial services to the public. Beginning January 1, 2003, the individual designated by a board of county commissioners to provide clerk of district court services under subsection 2 or 6 serves as ex officio clerk of district court. The salary and bond for the ex officio clerk of district court must be fixed by a resolution adopted by the board of county commissioners.2. A county may elect to provide clerk of district court services at the county's own expense. The board of county commissioners shall forward to the supreme court a resolution indicating its election to provide services under this subsection. Such services must be provided in a manner consistent with standards and procedures established by the supreme court. If the county is unable to provide adequate clerk of district court services, the supreme court shall provide for those services in any manner it considers appropriate. If a county has entered into an agreement under subsection 6, the county may not provide clerk of district court services under this subsection until after the agreement has expired.3. In a county in which the supreme court determines that at least five full-time employees are necessary to provide adequate clerk of district court services, the elected clerk of district court and clerk of court staff designated by the supreme court shall become employees of the state judicial system if the board of county commissioners consents to the transition after consultation with the elected clerk. This subsection applies upon receipt by the supreme court of a resolution adopted by the board of county commissioners indicating its consent. Any equipment, including technology-related equipment, and furnishings in the control and custody of the clerk of district court on the date the clerk becomes a state employee must remain in the control and custody of the clerk until the state court administrator determines the items are no longer needed. The clerk, upon becoming a state employee, shall receive a salary in an amount not less than the salary received as a county employee and shall remain an employee of the state judicial system until the clerk retires, resigns, or the term for which the clerk was initially elected expires, whichever occurs earlier. Thereafter, the clerk of district court must be appointed in the manner provided by supreme court rule. If the board of county commissioners does not consent to the clerk and designated staff becoming employees of the state judicial system, the county must provide clerk of district court services at its own expense in accordance with subsection 2.4. In a county in which the supreme court determines that one or more, but less than five, full-time employees are necessary to provide clerk of district court services, the elected clerk of district court and clerk of court staff designated by the supreme court shall become employees of the state judicial system in the manner described in subsection 3. If the board of county commissioners does not consent to the clerk and designated staff becoming employees of the state judicial system, the county may provide clerk of district court services at its own expense under subsection 2 or the supreme court may provide funding for clerk of district court services in accordance with an agreement under subsection 6.5. In a county in which the supreme court determines that less than one full-time employee is necessary to provide clerk of district court services, the supreme court may provide funding for such services in accordance with an agreement under subsection 6.6. The supreme court may enter into an agreement with one or more boards of county commissioners to provide funding for the provision of clerk of district court services in a manner consistent with standards and procedures established by the supreme court. Funding for personnel under the agreement must be equal to the amount, based on county employee compensation levels, necessary for the number of full-time employees needed to provide clerk of district court services. Funding must be available under the agreement to defray the cost of technology-related equipment considered necessary by the supreme court for the delivery of adequate clerk of district court services. After entering into an agreement under this subsection, a county may, under chapter 11-10.2 or 11-10.3, provide for the delivery of clerk of district court services in a manner consistent with the agreement. If a county fails to fulfill the terms of an agreement or is unable to provide clerk of district court services consistent with standards and procedures established by the supreme court, the supreme court shall provide for those services in any manner it considers appropriate.