As soon as practicable after the effective date of this amendatory Act, the chief judge of the Circuit Court in each circuit shall appoint for each county in the circuit having a population in excess of 1,000,000 to the office of public guardian a duly licensed attorney who shall hold office, death or resignation not intervening, at the pleasure of the chief judge; and whenever a vacancy occurs in the office it shall be filled in a like manner.
755 ILCS 5/13-1.1