41-5-201. Youth court judge -- judges pro tempore -- special masters. (1) Each judicial district in the state must have at least one judge of the youth court whose duties are to:

(a) appoint and supervise qualified personnel to staff the youth division probation departments within the judicial district;

(b) conduct hearings on youth court proceedings under this chapter;

(c) perform any other functions consistent with the legislative purpose of this chapter.

(2) In each multijudge judicial district the judges shall, by court rule, designate one or more of their number to act as youth court judge in each county in the judicial district for a fixed period of time. Service as youth court judge may be rotated among the different judges of the judicial district and among the individual counties within the judicial district for given periods of time. Continuity of service of a given judge as youth court judge and continuity in the operation and policies of the youth court in the county having the largest population in the judicial district must be the principal consideration of the rule.

(3) (a) A youth court judge may appoint a judge pro tempore or a special master to conduct preliminary, nondispositive matters, including but not limited to hearings for probable cause or detention and taking of responses for petitions.

(b) A judge pro tempore or special master must be a member of the state bar of Montana.