A judicial council is hereby established and created which shall be an independent agency in the judicial branch of government, shall submit its budget separately and may adopt its own pay plan and personnel rules. The judicial council shall be composed of one justice of the supreme court, one judge of the court of appeals, two district judges of different judicial districts, four resident lawyers, the chairperson of the judiciary committee of the house of representatives or the chairperson’s designate*, and the chairperson of the judiciary committee of the senate. All members except the members of the legislature shall be appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court for a term of four years and until a successor shall have been appointed and qualified.

The terms of the members of the legislature, and all other members, shall terminate upon such member ceasing to belong to the class from which such member was appointed. All vacancies except those of the members of the legislature shall be filled by appointment by the chief justice for the unexpired term. Upon vacancy, the places of the members of the legislature shall be filled by their successors.