Notwithstanding the provisions of section 478.265, in the thirty-first judicial circuit, the circuit court en banc may appoint one person, who shall possess the same qualifications as a circuit judge, to act as commissioner of the probate division of the circuit court. The commissioner shall be appointed for a term of four years. The compensation and retirement benefits of the commissioner shall be the same as that of an associate circuit judge, payable in the same manner and from the same source as that of the associate circuit judge. Subject to approval or rejection by the judge of the probate division, the commissioner shall have all the powers and duties of a circuit judge. The judge shall by order of record reject or confirm all orders, judgments and decrees of the commissioner within the time the judge could set aside such orders, judgments or decrees had the same been made by such judge. If so confirmed, the orders, judgments and decrees shall have the same effect as if made by the judge on the date of their confirmation.