28 U.S.C. § 258 : US Code - Section 258: Chief judges; precedence of judges

Search 28 U.S.C. § 258 : US Code - Section 258: Chief judges; precedence of judges

(a)(1) The chief judge of the Court of International Trade shall
be the judge of the court in regular active service who is senior
in commission of those judges who -
(A) are 64 years of age or under;
(B) have served for 1 year or more as a judge of the court; and
(C) have not served previously as chief judge.
(2)(A) In any case in which no judge of the court meets the
qualifications under paragraph (1), the youngest judge in regular
active service who is 65 years of age or over and who has served as
a judge of the court for 1 year or more shall act as the chief
judge.
(B) In any case under subparagraph (A) in which there is no judge
of the court in regular active service who has served as a judge of
the court for 1 year or more, the judge of the court in regular
active service who is senior in commission and who has not served
previously as chief judge shall act as the chief judge.
(3)(A) Except as provided under subparagraph (C), the chief judge
serving under paragraph (1) shall serve for a term of 7 years and
shall serve after expiration of such term until another judge is
eligible under paragraph (1) to serve as chief judge.
(B) Except as provided under subparagraph (C), a judge of the
court acting as chief judge under subparagraph (A) or (B) of
paragraph (2) shall serve until a judge meets the qualifications
under paragraph (1).
(C) No judge of the court may serve or act as chief judge of the
court after attaining the age of 70 years unless no other judge is
qualified to serve as chief judge under paragraph (1) or is
qualified to act as chief judge under paragraph (2).
(b) The chief judge shall have precedence and preside at any
session of the court which such judge attends. Other judges of the
court shall have precedence and preside according to the seniority
of their commissions. Judges whose commissions bear the same date
shall have precedence according to seniority in age.
(c) If the chief judge desires to be relieved of the duties as
chief judge while retaining active status as a judge of the court,
the chief judge may so certify to the Chief Justice of the United
States, and thereafter the chief judge of the court shall be such
other judge of the court who is qualified to serve or act as chief
judge under subsection (a).
(d) If a chief judge is temporarily unable to perform the duties
as such, such duties shall be performed by the judge of the court
in active service, able and qualified to act, who is next in
precedence.