P.R. Laws tit. 4, § 24j
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall direct the administration of the General Court of Justice, shall be responsible for the efficient operation of the courts, promote the accountability of the judges in the execution of their judicial obligations, and shall see to their compliance with the principles and objectives of this chapter.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico regarding a unified judicial system, the Chief Justice shall have exclusive authority to designate and assign administrative judges, in accordance with § 24k of this title; judges who shall hold sessions in the Court of First Instance, and judges to the several panels of the Court of Appeals; to modify such assignments, as the need arises, and may designate judges of one level, to exercise the jurisdiction of judges of another level, pursuant to the norms to be adopted to such effects, taking into account the ultimate goal of the courts of resolving cases and controversies in a just, speedy, effective, and efficient manner.
Administrative designations to serve as judges in courts of a higher hierarchy, shall only be made in extraordinary situations and for a limited term, which shall not exceed an uninterrupted term of one (1) year, pursuant to the needs of the judiciary system.
Furthermore, the Chief Justice shall have exclusive authority to appoint officials and employees as are necessary for the administration of the different bodies, instrumentalities, and boards of the Judicial Branch.
Every judge designated to hold a trust position in the central service of the Judicial Branch, such as the position of Administrative Director of the Courts and such other positions as the Chief Justice determines that are not incompatible with the position of judge, may serve for more than one (1) year in the trust position and shall be relieved of his/her judicial duties, but shall keep, for all pertinent purposes, his/her position, condition, and vested rights as a judge, while he/she is carrying out his/her assigned duties. During such period, he/she shall earn the salary corresponding to the trust position or that corresponding to his/her position of judge, whichever is higher and, once such period concludes, the judge shall earn the salary to which he/she would have been entitled to if he/she had continued holding the position of judge of the General Court of Justice uninterruptedly. Such designation shall not affect the term of appointment corresponding to the position of judge of the General Court of Justice held by him/her or his/her rights under the provisions of §§ 233—246 of this title, known as the “Judiciary Retirement Act”.
History —Aug. 22, 2003, No. 201, § 2.009, renumbered as § 2.012 on Sept. 29, 2004, No. 509, § 4; June 17, 2014, No. 67, § 8.