SECTION 5. Assistant clerks; appointment

In addition to the assistant clerks provided for in section four, the clerks of the courts for the following counties may, subject to the approval of the court administrator as to compliance with personnel standards promulgated pursuant to section 8 of chapter 211B, appoint assistant clerks with the same powers and duties. Said appointments shall be as follows:

Barnstable, 2 assistant clerks

Bristol, 9 assistant clerks

Essex, 11 assistant clerks

Hampden, 12 assistant clerks

Nantucket, 1 assistant clerk

Norfolk, 11 assistant clerks

Middlesex, 26 assistant clerks

Plymouth, 6 assistant clerks

Worcester, 11 assistant clerks

Suffolk, (a) superior court department, by the clerk of the superior court department for criminal business, 22 assistants; (b) superior court department, by the clerk of the superior court department for civil business, 26 assistants; (c) supreme judicial court, by the clerk of the supreme judicial court for said county, a second assistant clerk, designated from his office force and a third assistant clerk, designated from his office force.