§18.

    (a)    The Supreme Court of Maryland from time to time shall adopt rules and regulations concerning the practice and procedure in and the administration of the appellate courts and in the other courts of this State, which shall have the force of law until rescinded, changed or modified by the Supreme Court of Maryland or otherwise by law. The power of courts other than the Supreme Court of Maryland to make rules of practice and procedure, or administrative rules, shall be subject to the rules and regulations adopted by the Supreme Court of Maryland or otherwise by law.

    (b)    (1)    The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland shall be the administrative head of the Judicial system of the State. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland shall from time to time require, from each of the judges of the Circuit Courts, of the District Court and of any intermediate courts of appeal, reports as to the judicial work and business of each of the judges and their respective courts.

        (2)    Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4) of this subsection, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland may, in case of a vacancy, or of the illness, disqualification or other absence of a justice or judge or for the purpose of relieving an accumulation of business in any court assign any justice or judge except a judge of the Orphans’ Court to sit temporarily in any court except an Orphans’ Court.

        (3)    A retired judge of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County that sits as the Orphans’ Court for Montgomery County may be assigned by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland, upon approval of a majority of the Supreme Court of Maryland, to do an act that a judge of the Orphans’ Court for Montgomery County is authorized to perform.

        (4)    A retired judge of the Circuit Court for Harford County that sits as the Orphans’ Court for Harford County may be assigned by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland, upon approval of a majority of the Supreme Court of Maryland, to do an act that a judge of the Orphans’ Court for Harford County is authorized to perform.

        (5)    Any justice or judge assigned by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland pursuant to this section has all the power and authority pertaining to a justice or judge of the court to which the justice or judge is so assigned; and the justice’s or judge’s power and authority shall continue with respect to all cases (including any motion, or other matters incidental thereto) which may come before the justice or judge by virtue of such assignment until the justice’s or judge’s action thereon shall be completed. In the absence of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Maryland, the provisions of this section shall be applicable to the senior justice present in the Supreme Court of Maryland. The powers of the Chief Justice set forth in this section shall be subject to any rule or regulation adopted by the Supreme Court of Maryland.