The Text

The official terms of the justices of the supreme court shall be fourteen years from and including the first day of January next after their election. When a vacancy shall occur in the office of the justice of the supreme court otherwise than by expiration of term, it shall be filled for a full term at the next general election held not less than three months after the vacancy occurs; and until the vacancy shall be so filled, the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, if the senate shall be in session, or if not in session, the governor, may fill the vacancy by appointment, which shall continue until and including the last day of December next after the election at which the vacancy shall be filled. In addition to the powers and duties now conferred by law upon official referees of the court of appeals and of the supreme court, the legislature may provide that any such official referee, who may have been an elected judge of the court of appeals or an elected justice of the supreme court, may be temporarily assigned by the respective appellate divisions to hold trial and special terms of the supreme court with or without a jury, with the powers and duties of a justice of the supreme court while so assigned.