“The term “judge” is ordinarily limited to one who conducts, presides over, or is a member of a court of justice. A “court” is a tribunal presided over by one or more judges for the exercise of such judicial power as has been conferred upon it by law. Whenever a judge is present at the place designated for transaction of judicial business, and there assumes to transact such business, his or her acts may be considered as the acts of the court of which he or she is a judge. The term “court” as used in the Code of Civil Procedure sometimes means the place where the court is held, sometimes the tribunal itself, and sometimes the individual presiding over the tribunal; in many cases it is used synonymously as well as interchangeably with “judge.” Superior court judges are chosen in their counties at general elections. When a vacancy occurs before completion of a term, the Governor may make a temporary appointment until the next election is held to fill that term. A retired judge may be assigned by the Chairperson of the Judicial Council (Chief Justice) to sit as a superior court judge. Additionally, on stipulation of the parties, any member of the State Bar may be appointed by the presiding or supervising judge as a “temporary judge,” and upon taking an oath of office, empowered to act as a superior court judge until final disposition of a case. A presiding judge may also assign a court commissioner to sit as a “temporary judge” under the same terms when the presiding judge determines doing so is necessary for the effective administration of justice (due to a shortage of judges). A “temporary judge” has all the powers of a sitting judge in the proceedings before him or her. The orders and judgments of a “temporary judge” carry the same presumption of regularity as those of a permanent judge of the court. There are specific rules regulating appointment of a temporary judge requested by the parties and proceedings before such judges.”
[California Civil Courtroom Handbook & Desktop Reference [certain citations omitted]]
