602.4103  Chief justice.
  The justices of the supreme court shall select one justice as chief justice, to serve during that justice’s term of office. The chief justice is eligible for reselection. The chief justice shall appoint one of the other justices to act during the absence or inability of the chief justice to act, and when so acting the appointee has all the rights, duties, and powers of the chief justice.
83 Acts, ch 186, §5103, 10201