Order in the Court: Local Judge Position to be Eliminated

[XLFD]

As reported in the Muskegon News on Wednesday afternoon:

Oceana and Newaygo counties will lose a circuit judgeship while Mason and Lake counties will lose a district judgeship under legislation Gov. Rick Snyder has signed.

The new law will eliminate judgeships in districts that the State Court Administrative Office, an arm of the Michigan Supreme Court, has identified as having more judges than necessary. The cuts are eventually expected to save taxpayers more than $2 million annually.

The eliminations will be carried out through attrition. They will take effect only when a current judge vacates office through retirement or death, chooses not to run for re-election or is constitutionally barred from re-election due to age.

In West Michigan, the changes affect two regions.

-- The 27th Circuit, which comprises Oceana and Newaygo counties, will go from two judges to one. Currently, judges Terrence R. Thomas and Anthony A. Monton preside in the circuit.

-- The 79th District, Mason and Lake counties, will also drop from two judges to one. District judges Peter J. Wadel and Mark S. Wickens now preside.

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2012/02/judgeships_to_...

 

Mason County is currently served by Hon. Judge Richard Cooper (51st Circuit), Judge Peter Wadel (79th District), and Mark Raven (Probate).  If Mark Wickens of Lake County is retained, we will lose Judge Wadel, who I maintain is a proven jurist of good repute to justice.  It will be a sad day for the County to lose him, and not only that, it will be a poor maneuver by the state if they want to save money.

 

Why would I say that?

 

Nearly $100,000 of reasons.

 

Here is the amount of money that the judges receive from Mason County and the State, this information received recently from a FOIA request.

 

Judge Cooper:  $37,440

Judge Wadel:   $49,384

Judge Raven:  $143,579

 

 

Is Judge Raven worth about 4 Judge Coopers and 3 Judge Wadels?  I didn't think so, and so we contacted the County's FOIA coordinator to make sure it was not a misprint.  He said:  "No, that is not a misprint. Judge Raven’s wages are set by the State of Michigan and the state reimburses the county for a portion of his wages."

 

Of the $230,403 paid out in public funds, the elimination of Judge Wadel's position will only save the taxpayers 21% of their current costs.  If Judge Raven's position is eliminated, 62% of the costs will be saved.  Each of the three judges can currently serve each other's courts in a plan of concurrent jurisdiction.  If the state wants to save money, why don't they eliminate the biggest drain of the money?  

[AQUAMAN]

Thanks Masonco, I still think something is amiss in that reported salary, way too low. Almost anyone straight out of law school should be able to demand $40-50K/yr. w/o any problem. I thought way back when in the LDN archives, when he ran for office, they explained his background, family, and that the job was paying about $80K, that was in the early 80's too. Can anyone confirm that old LDN archive? Thanks.