For each county, or if the Supreme Judicial Court has by rule established judicial regions, for each judicial region, the Chief Justice of the Superior Court shall appoint clerks as necessary to serve the Superior Court. A clerk of the District Court may also serve as the clerk of the Superior Court. If the business of any county or judicial region does not require the full-time service of a clerk, the Chief Justice of the Superior Court may appoint a part-time clerk for that county or region. Whenever a clerk is absent or temporarily unable to perform the duties of clerk and an existing or immediate session of the court requires it, the Chief Justice of the Superior Court may designate a clerk pro tempore who has the same powers and duties as the clerk. The clerks of the Superior Court shall also serve in their respective counties or judicial regions as clerks of the Supreme Judicial Court as needed. [PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. I, §15 (AMD).]