Opinion ID: 853838
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Clear and present danger to the operation of the courts.

Text: As noted above, salaries of court employees may be ordered paid at sufficient levels to attract and retain qualified persons in service and the court need not wait to take action until the ability to operate has actually been impaired, but there must be a clear and present danger of impairment. Morgan Circuit Court, 550 N.E.2d at 1304. The County Council asserts that the evidence does not support the conclusion that a clear and present danger to the operation of the courts exist. In summary, the evidence shows that of the ten affected positions on the courts, two have become vacant within the past year when the incumbent employees quit to take higher paying jobs and one of those positions will again become vacant, the incumbent having given notice of her intent to quit. There was testimonial evidence that the low pay would limit the courts' ability to attract qualified replacements. It is true, as the County Council asserts, that there was no evidence that any other members of the courts' current reporting staff are expressly preparing to quit. However, the recent turnover rate and the potential inability to attract qualified applicants because of the comparatively low pay supports a conclusion that a clear and present danger to the operation of the courts exists.