Section 1 - Authority; Registration; Eligibility(A) Parties to a civil action or proceeding pending in a court of common pleas, municipal court, or county court who agree to have their action or proceeding referred or issue or question submitted to a voluntarily retired judge pursuant to section 2701.10 of the Revised Code shall refer the action or proceeding or submit the issue or question according to the provisions of this rule and that section.(B) To be eligible for the referral of actions or proceedings or submission of issues or questions, a retired judge shall register with the appropriate clerk of courts in accordance with section 2701.10 of the Revised Code and shall file a retired judge registration form with the Supreme Court.(C)(1) A voluntarily retired judge or a judge retired under Article IV, Section 6(C) of the Ohio Constitution may register pursuant to section 2701.10 of the Revised Code.(2) As used in this rule, "voluntarily retired judge" means any person who was elected or appointed to and served on an Ohio court without being defeated in an election for new or continued service on that court. "Voluntarily retired judge" does not include either of the following:(a) A judge who has been removed or suspended without reinstatement from service on any Ohio court pursuant to the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Judiciary or who has resigned or retired from service while a complaint was pending under those rules;(b) A judge who has resigned from office between the date of defeat in an election for further service on that court and the end of his or her term.(D) A retired judge who registers and is selected to receive referrals and submissions pursuant to section 2701.10 of the Revised Code may accept assignments from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court pursuant to Article IV, Section 6(C) of the Ohio Constitution.