The Presiding Judge of each Division or District of the Circuit Court of Cook County may assign to Associate Judges within his Division or District, severally or by designation of office, by class or category of case, or in specific instances, any matter except the trial of criminal cases in which the defendant is charged with an offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one (1) year, unless such Associate Judge is authorized by the Illinois Supreme Court to hear felony trials.

[Amended, effective January 7, 1982.]