The Administrative Director of Courts, with the approval of the Chief Justice, is hereby authorized to appoint and employ not more than two confidential secretaries who shall serve at the pleasure of the Chief Justice. Said secretary or secretaries shall be subject to the Merit System Act only as to pay plan, and shall be assigned to assist retired justices or judges who perform active duty for the Supreme Court or one or both of the courts of appeals.
Ala. Code § 12-5-21 (1975)