Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §2-A, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 683, Pt. E, §1, is amended to read:

§2-A. Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to sit in District

Court

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court may assign a Justice or Active Retired Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to sit in the District Court or the Administrative Court, and when so directed the justice has authority and jurisdiction in the District Court or the Administrative Court as if the justice were a regular judge of that court. When assigned under this section, the justice may hear all matters and issue all orders, notices, decrees and judgments that any Judge of the District Court or the Administrative Court is authorized to hear and issue.

The order of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court directing a Justice or an Active Retired Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to sit in the District Court or the Administrative Court must be filed with the Executive Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court, but need not be docketed or otherwise recorded in any case heard by that justice.

Sec. 2. 4 MRSA §8, first ¶, as amended by PL 1983, c. 653, is further amended to read:

The Supreme Judicial Court shall have has the power to prescribe, by general rules, for the Administrative, Probate, District and Superior Courts of Maine, the forms of process, writs, pleadings and motions, and the practice and procedure in civil actions at law. Said rules shall may neither abridge, enlarge nor modify the substantive rights of any litigant. They shall take effect on such date not less than 6 months after their promulgation as the Supreme Judicial Court may fix. After their promulgation the Supreme Judicial Court may repeal, amend, modify or add to them from time to time with or without a waiting period. After the effective date of said rules as promulgated or amended, all laws in conflict therewith shall be are of no further force or effect.

Sec. 3. 4 MRSA §9-B, as amended by PL 1991, c. 885, Pt. E, §2 and affected by §47, is further amended to read:

§9-B. Committee on judicial responsibility and disability

The Supreme Judicial Court has the power and authority to prescribe, repeal, add to, amend or modify rules relating to a committee to receive complaints, make investigations and make