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LCityof <br />Louisville <br />COLORADO • SINCE 1878 <br />LEGAL COMMITTEE <br />COMMUNICATION <br />SUBJECT: <br />DISCUSSION/DIRECTION — REVIEW OF SALARIES FOR <br />JUDGE, DEPUTY JUDGE, AND PROSECUTING ATTORNEY <br />AND RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL <br />DATE: DECEMBER 2, 2019 <br />PRESENTED BY: MEREDYTH MUTH, CITY CLERK <br />SUMMARY: <br />Staff is preparing contracts for the Judge, Deputy Judge, and Prosecuting Attorney for <br />appointments in 2020 and has been reviewing the compensation rates for these <br />positions and looking at what some of our neighbors pay for the positions (see <br />attachment 1). <br />Municipal Judge <br />The Charter states "The Council shall establish the compensation for the presiding <br />municipal judge and each deputy municipal judge. The compensation shall not be <br />dependent upon the outcome of the matters to be decided by the judge." <br />Ordinance No. 1706, Series 2015 set the presiding municipal judge salary at <br />$31,200.00 payable on a monthly basis of $2,600.00 per month, effective January 1, <br />2016. <br />The judge is paid a monthly salary regardless of this number of court sessions he <br />attends. If the deputy judge fills in, the City is then paying both the monthly salary of the <br />judge and the hourly rate of the deputy for that session. <br />Other than the regularly scheduled court sessions, the Municipal Judge also spends <br />time on court administrative work and swears in police officers and elected officials so <br />that work load is higher than the deputy judge. <br />If Council would like to change this salary it needs to be done by Ordinance, which can <br />happen in January prior to a judge appointment in March. <br />Deputy Judge <br />The Charter states each deputy municipal judge shall receive compensation as set by <br />city council resolution. Resolution No. 82, Series 2015 set the compensation for the <br />deputy judge at $70.00 per hour which was a change from previous practice of paying <br />$325 per court session. Looking at invoices, this has turned out to be a reduction in the <br />hourly pay for the deputy judge. Staff recommends the pay rate for the deputy judge be <br />evaluated for an increase or a change back to a per session cost as this has not been <br />addressed in four years. <br />LEGAL COMMITTEE COMMUNICATION <br />16 <br />