§ 5540a. Jurisdiction over small claims; assistant judges
(a)(1) Subject to the limitations in this section and notwithstanding any provision of law
to the contrary, assistant judges of Essex, Caledonia, Rutland, and Bennington Counties
sitting alone shall hear and decide small claims actions filed under this chapter
with the Essex, Caledonia, Rutland, and Bennington Superior Courts.
(2) [Repealed.]
(b) With the exception of assistant judges authorized to preside in small claims matters
prior to June 16, 2001 who have successfully completed the testing requirements established
herein, an assistant judge hearing cases under this section shall have completed at
least 100 hours of relevant training and testing and observed 20 hours of small claims
hearings in accordance with the protocol for said training and observation, which
shall be established by the Court Administrator in consultation with the Association
of Assistant Judges. An assistant judge who hears cases under this section shall annually
complete 16 hours of continuing education, established by the Court Administrator
in consultation with the Association of Assistant Judges, relating to jurisdiction
exercised under this section and shall file a certificate to such effect with the
Court Administrator. Law clerk assistance available to Superior judges shall be available
to the assistant judges.
(c) A decision of an assistant judge shall be entered as a small claims judgment and may
be appealed pursuant to section 5538 of this title. The appeal shall be decided by the presiding judge.
(d) An assistant judge upon successful completion of the training under subsection (b)
of this section shall cause the Superior Court clerk to notify the Court Administrator
of the assistant judge’s successful completion of training. Upon receipt of such notification,
small claims cases that require a hearing shall first be set for hearing before an
assistant judge in the Superior Court in the county and shall be heard by the assistant
judge. If the assistant judge is unavailable due to illness, vacation, administrative
leave, disability, or disqualification, the Chief Superior Judge pursuant to 4 V.S.A. § 22 may assign a judge, or appoint and assign a member of the Vermont bar to serve temporarily
as an acting judge, to hear small claims cases in the county. No action filed or pending
shall be heard at or transferred to any other location unless agreed to by the parties.
If both assistant judges of the county elect to successfully complete training to
hear these matters, the senior assistant judge shall make the assignment of cases
to be heard by each assistant judge. The assistant judges, once qualified to preside
in these matters, shall work with the Court Administrator’s office and the Chief Superior
Judge such that the scheduling of small claims cases before the assistant judges are
at such times as to permit adequate current court personnel to be available when these
cases are heard.
(e) Subdivision (a)(2) of this section shall be repealed effective on January 31, 2011. (Added 1995, No. 181 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. Sept. 1, 1996; amended 1997, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 32; 2001, No. 70, § 2, eff. June 16, 2001; 2003, No. 58, § 1, eff. June 5, 2003; 2005, No. 71, § 96a; 2005, No. 167 (Adj. Sess.), § 8, eff. May 20, 2006; 2007, No. 51, § 11; 2009, No. 154 (Adj. Sess.), § 84a; 2015, No. 58, § E.204.12; 2021, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 24, eff. May 31, 2022.)