Daily Briefs

Michigan House supports 10% raise for Supreme Court justices


LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan House voted Tuesday to approve a 10% pay increase for state Supreme Court justices, backing a recommendation made by a compensation commission.

If the raise also is endorsed by the Senate, justices' salary would rise from $164,610 to $172,841 in 2021 and to $181,483 in 2022. It would be the first raise in nearly 20 years.

Supporters said the hike is necessary because Michigan's roughly two-dozen Court of Appeals judges, whose pay is tied to increases typically given to all state employees on an annual basis, will soon be paid more than the seven justices.

"It doesn't quite make sense," said Rep. Graham Filler, a DeWitt Republican. "The Supreme Court is the main court in the state of Michigan. They do all the intake of cases that go up for appeal and they decide on some of the biggest issues. They should be the highest-paid judges."

In May, the State Officers Compensation Commission recommended 5% pay raises in 2021 and 2022. The panel previously suggested increases in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017, but the recommendations did not advance in the Legislature.

The GOP-led House used a voice vote to pass a resolution approving the $16,873 raise.

In its report to lawmakers, the commission said the justices' salaries rank 35th-lowest in the country. Chief Justice Bridget McCormack noted the effect of inflation and how other judges and state workers had received cost-of-living raises since 2002.

The panel did not recommend pay increases for lawmakers, the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and secretary of state.

 

ABA Commission offers colleges best practices for gender-based  violence complaints


The American Bar Association Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence has released a new report with recommendations on how to handle gender-based violence complaints involving sexual harassment, rape, stalking or domestic violence between students.

The report is the result of a three-year project that was based on a national survey, research, interviews, and focus groups with higher education professionals from several college campuses.
The study provides colleges with detailed best practices for handling student-on-student gender-based violence complaints and does not deal with complaints involving faculty or staff.

The views expressed in the report are those of the Commission only. They have not been approved by the ABA House of Delegates or ABA Board of Governors and do not represent the position of the ABA.

“Too many college students—predominantly women but also a significant number of men—have their lives and educations disrupted by sexual assault,” said Andrew King-Ries, chair of the Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence.  “Respond­ing to gender-based violence is challenging for higher education institutions but is also critical to ensuring that campuses are safe, offenders are held accountable, and survivors are able to heal and continue their educations.”

Recommendations are divided into three sections: Establishing a Comprehensive Response System; Investigation Practices; and Post-Investigation Matters.

––––––––––––––––––––

Subscribe to the Legal News!

http://legalnews.com/subscriptions

Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more

Day Pass Only $4.95!

One-County $80/year

Three-County & Full Pass also available

 

––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
http://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available