The judge of this court may take an annual vacation of one month. He may appoint an attorney residing within the territorial boundaries of the court to sit and hold court when the judge is absent from the territorial jurisdiction of the court while on vacation. The attorney shall possess the same qualifications as those required of the judge. Such attorney shall be paid from the judicial expense fund established by R.S. 13:2563.17, a sum equal to the proportionate amount of the judge's salary for the period of time for which the appointee serves as judge of the court, and he shall have the powers and duties of a regular judge while sitting as such.
La. R.S. § 13:2563.9