Case ID: wv-ct-cl_15/html/0060-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM:.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Opinion issued December 15, 1983
    
    WANETTA F. ADKINS DEBORAH K. BOWERS PAULA D. BURCH SHEILA E. (CASTEEL) COGAR MARCELLA M. “AUSTIN” COOK JOANNE Y. DAILEY JUDITH DAVIS PAULA JEANNINE DOLAN HELEN ECHARD DUKE LORI L. FITZWATER ANITA HAGER PATRICIA ANN HANLON TERESA LYNN HATTEN NANCY J. HAUGHT RUBY KAY HAWKINS DEBRA E. HIXENBAUGH HELEN IDLEMAN ROSETTA MAE JORDAN JANE C. KELLER JANET S. KOONTZ PENNY S. LONG FRANCES ANN LUTMAN CAROLYN E. MASON MARY L. McCORD ROBIN A. MICHAEL CHRISTY L. MORRIS PATRICIA A. NAPIER SALLY J. NAPIER PATRICIA A. NOLAND JANET ELIZABETH PRICE TERRY LYNN PRIOR RHONDA P. RADABAUGH JANICE KAY ROTH CHERYL J. RUDOLPH SHARON L. SMITH HILDA R. TENNEY GAIL C. VIANDS MARY CATHERINE WATERS ALLEEN F. WEAVER SANDRA SUE WHITELEY DORIS R. WHITING SALLY J. WILKS CAROLYNE C. WILSON AND PATRICIA ANN SCHWERTFEGER vs. SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
    
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    Jack Kinder, representing W.Va. Magistrates Association.
    Sterl F. Shinaberry, Attorney at Law, for respondent.
   PER CURIAM:.

The claimants are magistrate court clerks, deputy court clerks, and assistants in various counties throughout West Virginia. They seek to recover wages not paid to them (in accordance with the salary scale based upon the 1980 decennial census) for the 1981-82 fiscal year.

The respondent has moved to dismiss the claims based upon the West Virginia Supreme Court decision of Ruth A. Donaldson, Magistrate, etc., et al. v. Gainer, Jr., Auditor, et al., W. Va., 294 S.E. 2d 103 (1982).

Salaries for magistrates and their support staff members are funded by appropriation for the judicial branch of government. The Legislature approves such funding for the next ensuing fiscal year. In the Donaldson opinion, the W.Va. Supreme Court of Appeals determined that because of this funding scheme, which requires that the budget bill be proposed in advance of the fiscal year to which it applies, salary increases for magistrates and staff members could not be appropriated until the next ensuing fiscal year after publication of the new census figures. The Donaldson opinion states that magistrates have recourse to this Court in order to recover such amounts as may be due for that period prior to the new fiscal year.

However, the Donaldson opinion draws a distinction between magistrates’ salaries, which are fixed by statute, and the salaries of supporting staff members. The salary of a clerk is fixed by the Judge of the Circuit Court of the county within a maximum limit allowable (W.Va. Code 50-1-8). The salaries of deputy clerks and assistants are fixed by the magistrate within a maximum limit allowable (W.Va. Code 50-1-9 and 50-l-9a). The salaries of deputy clerks and assistants not being fixed by statute, there appears to be no retroactive entitlement to salary.

This Court must, therefore, grant respondent’s motion to dismiss.

Claims dismissed.