Should there be a vacancy in the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or in case of his absence from the State or of his illness or incapacity from whatever cause, then the power and authority vested and the duties imposed upon the Chief Justice by the provisions of §§ 14-5-160 to 14-5-180 shall be exercised and discharged by the senior associate justice of the Supreme Court in point of service who is at the time within the State and is not ill or otherwise incapacitated and his acts in exercising such powers and discharging such duties shall be as effectual as though performed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.