KRS 69.060: Pro tem Commonwealth's or county attorney -- Appointment --

Compensation.

Whenever the Commonwealth's or county attorney is absent, the Chief Judge of the

appropriate court may appoint a suitable attorney to act as Commonwealth's or county

attorney during his absence to prosecute criminal cases in the respective court. Such pro

tem Commonwealth's or county attorney shall receive for his services the same

compensation which the regular Commonwealth's or county attorney would receive for

such criminal prosecutorial duties, on a proportional basis, to be paid out of the State

Treasury on certificate of the Circuit Court clerk. The judge shall not appoint an attorney

to act in the place of the Commonwealth's attorney unless he and the county attorney are

both absent, or are related to or counsel for the accused, except that in cases o f felony the

judge may appoint a pro tem Commonwealth's attorney even though the county attorney

is present and not disqualified.