3-1-901. Judicial vacancy -- notice. (1) (a) Upon receiving notice from the chief justice of the supreme court, the governor shall appoint a candidate, as provided in this part, to fill any vacancy on the supreme court or the district court.

(b) The chief justice of the supreme court shall appoint a candidate to fill any term or vacancy for the chief water judge or associate water judge pursuant to 3-7-221.

(2) Within 10 days of the date of receipt by the governor of the notice from the chief justice of the supreme court that a vacancy has occurred or the effective date of a judicial resignation has been announced, the governor shall notify the public, including media outlets with general statewide circulation and other appropriate sources, that a vacancy has been announced, including the deadline within which applications must be received.