(a) Any judge who is unable to discharge efficiently the duties of his or her office by reason of mental or physical disability that is or is likely to become permanent may, with his or her consent and with the approval of the Chief Justice or Acting Chief Justice and the Commission on Judicial Performance, be retired from office. The consent of the judge shall be made on a written application to the Commission on Judicial Performance. The retirement shall be effective upon approval by the designated officers, except as provided in subdivision (b). A certificate evidencing the approval shall be filed with the Secretary of State. Upon the filing of the certificate, a successor shall be appointed to fill the vacancy.

(b) Any judge who dies after executing an application evidencing his or her consent that has been received in the office of the commission and before the approval of both of the designated officers has been obtained shall be deemed to have retired on the date of his or her death if the designated officers, prior to the filling of the vacancy created by the judge’s death, file with the Secretary of State their certificate of approval.

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(c) No retirement under this section may be approved unless a written statement by a physician or psychiatrist that he or she has personally examined the judge applying for retirement under this section and that he or she is of the opinion that the judge is unable to discharge efficiently the duties of the judge’s office by reason of a mental or physical disability that is or is likely to become permanent is presented to the persons having the responsibility to approve or disapprove the retirement.

(Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 56, Sec. 98.)