SECTION 6. Clerk and assistant clerks; terms; salaries

The justices of the appeals court shall appoint the clerk of the appeals court for a term of five years from the date of his appointment, and may remove him. Said justices may appoint a first assistant clerk and 4 assistant clerks of said court for terms of three years from the dates of their respective appointments, and may remove them. Said clerk, first assistant clerk and assistant clerks shall devote their entire time during ordinary business hours to their respective duties and shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in the practice of law.

The salary of the clerk of the appeals court shall be 81.57 per cent of the salary of the chief justice of said court and shall be paid, subject to appropriation, by the commonwealth. The salary of the first assistant clerk in said court shall be ninety-three and thirty-seven hundredths of the salary of the clerk of said court and shall be paid, subject to appropriation, by the commonwealth. The salaries of the assistant clerks in said court shall be eighty-six and one-tenth percent of the salary of said clerk and shall be paid, subject to appropriation, by the commonwealth.