Whereas, in Public Law 1999, chapter 731, the 119th Legislature enacted legislation concerning court unification; and

Whereas, that legislation inadvertently eliminated the jurisdiction of a single Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to sit on the Superior Court; and

Whereas, it is essential to correct this error immediately; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §2-A, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 683, Pt. E, §1, is amended to read:

§2-A. Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to sit in Superior

Court, District Court, Administrative Court

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court may assign a Justice or Active Retired Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to sit in the Superior Court, the District Court or the Administrative Court, and when so directed the justice has authority and jurisdiction in the Superior Court, the District Court or the Administrative Court as if the justice were a regular justice or judge of that court. When assigned under this section, the justice may hear all matters and issue all orders, notices, decrees and judgments that any Justice of the Superior Court or Judge of the District Court or the Administrative Court is authorized to hear and issue.

The order of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court directing a Justice or an Active Retired Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to sit in the Superior Court, the District Court or the Administrative Court must be filed with the Executive Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court, but need not be docketed or otherwise recorded in any case heard by that justice.

Sec. 2. 4 MRSA §2-A, as amended by PL 1999, c. 547, Pt. B, §1 and affected by §80, is further amended to read: