AGO 5801.

• Case Date: October 17, 1980
• Court: Michigan

Michigan Attorney General Opinions 1980. AGO 5801. October 17, 1980STATE OF MICHIGAN FRANK J. KELLEY, ATTORNEY GENERAL Opinion No. 5801COURTS, DISTRICT: Compensation of district judges A district court judge may not receive an additional supplemental salary, designated as a cost of living allowance or otherwise, from the district control unit in a total amount which exceeds 60 percent of the salary paid to the circuit judges by the state. The Honorable Alfred A. Sheridan State Representative The Capitol Lansing, Michigan 48909 You have requested my opinion on the following question: May a district control unit which is paying district court judges of a third class district the maximum supplement permitted by 1978 PA 150 pay those judges a cost of living allowance as a fringe benefit? RJA 1961, Sec. 8202; MCLA 600.8202; MSA 27A.8202, provides for the salaries and expenses of district judges: '(1) A district judge shall receive an annual salary payable by the state equal to 90% of the annual salary payable by the state to a circuit judge. '(2) In addition to the salary received from the state, a district judge may receive from a district control unit in which the judge regularly holds court an additional salary as determined by the governing legislative body thereof. Supplemental salaries paid by a district control unit shall be uniform as to all judges who regularly hold court therein. The total annual additional salary paid to a district court judge by the district control units in which the judge regularly holds court shall not exceed 60% of the annual salary payable by the state to a circuit judge.' [Emphasis added.] RJA 1961, Sec...