Opinion ID: 1410339
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: part-time magistrates' compensation

Text: The Magistrate's Pay Act was enacted by 1988 Act No. 678, Part I, § 7. It defines part-time and fulltime magistrates, and provides the minimum compensation a county must pay its magistrates, depending upon population. Section 22-8-40(B)(1)(f) requires a base salary of $17,000 for a full-time magistrate in a county of less than 35,000 people. [1] Subsection (D) entitles part-time magistrates to a proportionate percentage of a full-time magistrate's salary. The percentage is computed by dividing by forty the number of hours a week the part-time magistrate spends in the performance of his duties. Section 22-8-40(D) further provides: The number of hours a week that a part-time magistrate spends in the exercise of the judicial function, and scheduled to be spend on call , must be the average number of hours worked... (Emphasis supplied.) Where the words of a statute are clear and unambiguous, its terms must be given their literal meaning. Duke Power Co. v. S.C. Tax Commission , 292 S.C. 64, 354 S.E. (2d) 902 (1987). The language of § 22-8-40(D) mandates that part-time magistrates be compensated for hours scheduled to be spent on call. We reject County's contention that omission of on call time from the definition of part-time magistrate [2] and judicial functions, [3] requires a contrary result. Where one statute deals with a subject in general terms, and another with a portion of the same subject in a more specific and definite way, the special statute will be given effect. Wilder v. S.C. State Highway Dept. , 228 S.C. 448, 90 S.E. (2d) 635 (1955). Under the last legislative expression rule, where conflicting provisions exist, the last in point of time or order of arrangement, prevails. Jolly v. Atlantic Greyhound Corp. , 207 S.C. 1, 35 S.E. (2d) 42 (1945); Feldman v. S.C. Tax Commission , 203 S.C. 49, 26 S.E. (2d) 22 (1943). Section 22-8-40(D) deals specifically with part-time magistrates' compensation and is subsequent, in order of arrangement, to the sections defining part-time magistrate and judicial functions. Circuit Court correctly held that part-time magistrates are entitled to compensation for time scheduled to be spent on call.