Pennsylvania Statutes Title 71 P.S. State Government § 779.8. Special emergency judges

(a) The Governor shall fill vacancies in the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the statutes of this Commonwealth.

(b) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in consultation with the other members of said court, and after consultation with the State or county chairman of the political party concerned, shall appoint a special emergency judge of the same political party as represented by the regular judge, temporarily, to exercise the powers and duties of each unavailable judge in each court of record, except the Supreme Court.

All such appointees shall possess all the qualifications required by the Constitution and statutes of this Commonwealth.

Said special emergency judges shall discharge the duties and exercise the powers of such office only until such time as a vacancy which may exist shall be filled in accordance with the Constitution and statutes, or until the regular judge or one preceding the designee in the order of succession becomes available to exercise the powers and discharge the duties of the office.