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North Carolina's roster of "emergency" judges has more than met the test lately. Dozens agreed to plug gaps on the Superior and District Court bench -- at no pay.

Emergency judges fill in when regular judges take vacations, get sick or are bogged down in trials that drag on longer than expected. They're paid $400 a day, except now. State budget cuts forced the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to suspend the use of emergency judges, an action that could have closed some courts.

Rather than let that happen, 44 emergency judges -- 30 in District Court and 14 in Superior -- stepped up.

"I'm very pleased at the number who have volunteered," Judge Ralph Walker of Greensboro said Tuesday. "It means a lot to the court system to make sure there aren't cancellations and cases are heard in a timely manner."

Walker retired last year as director of the AOC and previously served on the N.C. Court of Appeals. He was set to hold a term of court in Guilford County recently but the cases were settled. He expects another call soon.

It's been many years since he presided over a criminal case, he admitted, but added: "I'm sure after hearing a few cases, I'll get back in the swing of things."

Greensboro's Doug Albright was a familiar figure in Superior Court for 32 years before retiring in 2006. He continued working as an emergency judge and has held court in Greensboro and High Point this summer for no pay.

Albright notes he's "drawing retirement pay," but he's still volunteering services worth thousands of dollars to the state. That's dedication, and the overwhelming response by emergency judges speaks well of the character of this group, which collectively has given more than 40 weeks of free service so far, AOC reports.

"Everybody understands the need is real," Albright said Tuesday. "You can shut down some things, but the courts have to continue. If all of us pitch in, we'll get through this."

One more thing would help: "I'd love to have a 15 percent cut in crime," Albright said.