2013 Mississippi Code
Title 25 - PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES; PUBLIC RECORDS
Chapter 3 - SALARIES AND COMPENSATION
GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 25-3-35 - Salaries of elected judiciary, district attorneys and legal assistants

[Effective until the later of the date Laws of 2012, ch. 329, is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended, or January 1, 2013, this section will read:]

(1) The annual salaries of the following judges are fixed as follows, to begin at

the commencement of the next term of office immediately succeeding the

existing term:

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court..............................$ 115,390.00

Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court............................113,190.00

Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, each.....................112,530.00

However, in addition to their present official duties, there are imposed

upon the Supreme Court justices the extra duties of making a special study of

existing laws and reporting to each regular session of the Legislature such

constructive suggestions as they may deem necessary for the improvement of the

administration of justice, and of identifying and directing the State

Librarian to apply for grants and donations from any public or private source

for the purpose of enhancing the holdings of the State Law Library, and of

advising and counseling with the State Librarian in the selection of law books

for purchase and use in the State Law Library, advising with the librarian

thereof upon the removal from the library of any books which may be the least

frequently used, and for the placing of same in a convenient location so as to

provide additional space for such books and other current publications which

may be more frequently used or called for. For such extra services each

justice, from and after January 1, 2004, shall receive a sum sufficient when

added to the present salaries of the justices to aggregate One Hundred Fifteen

Thousand Three Hundred Ninety Dollars ($ 115,390.00) for the Chief Justice,

One Hundred Thirteen Thousand One Hundred Ninety Dollars ($ 113,190.00) for

the presiding justice, and One Hundred Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Thirty

Dollars ($ 112,530.00) for associate justices, per annum. As each existing

term expires and the above-captioned salaries become effective in due course,

the extra duties and compensation provided for shall cease.

The fixed salaries as specified in this subsection (1) shall be the

exclusive and total compensation which can be reported to the Public

Employees' Retirement System for retirement purposes; however, any judge in

office on December 31, 2003, may continue to report his expense allowance as

part of his compensation for retirement purposes.

(2) The annual salaries of the judges of the Court of Appeals of

Mississippi are fixed as follows, to begin at the commencement of the next

term of office immediately succeeding the existing term:

Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals.............................$ 108,130.00

Associate Judges of the Court of Appeals, each....................105,050.00

However, in addition to their present official duties, there are imposed

upon the judges of the Court of Appeals the extra duties of making a special

study of existing laws and reporting to the Supreme Court of the State of

Mississippi such constructive suggestions as they may deem necessary for the

improvement of the administration of justice, and assisting in advising and

counseling with the State Librarian in the selection of law books for purchase

and use in the State Law Library, assisting in advising with the librarian

thereof upon the removal from the library of any books which may be the least

frequently used, and for the placing of same in a convenient location so as to

provide additional space for such books and other current publications which

may be more frequently used or called for. For such extra services each judge,

from and after January 1, 2004, shall receive a sum sufficient when added to

the present salaries of the judges to aggregate One Hundred Eight Thousand One

Hundred Thirty Dollars ($ 108,130.00) for the Chief Judge and One Hundred Five

Thousand Fifty Dollars ($ 105,050.00) for associate judges, per annum. As each

existing term expires and the above-captioned salaries become effective in due

course, the extra duties and compensation provided for shall cease.

The fixed salaries as specified in this subsection (2) shall be the

exclusive and total compensation which can be reported to the Public

Employees' Retirement System for retirement purposes; however, any judge in

office on December 31, 2003, may continue to report his expense allowance as

part of his compensation for retirement purposes.

(3) The annual salaries of the chancery and circuit court judges are fixed

as follows, to begin at the commencement of the next term of office

immediately succeeding the existing term:

Chancery Judges, each...........................................$ 104,170.00

Circuit Judges, each..............................................104,170.00

In addition to their present official duties, there are imposed upon the chancery and circuit court judges the extra duties of making a special study of existing laws relating to trial courts and reporting to the Supreme Court of the State of Mississippi such constructive suggestions as they may deem necessary for the improvement of the administration of justice, which shall be recommended to the Legislature by the Supreme Court in the manner provided by law. The judges shall advise and supervise in the purchase of law books for the libraries of each district, and shall study and evaluate the inventory of books and facilities now existing in the libraries of each district to effect the removal and relocation of obsolete publications so as to provide additional space for those books and current publications more frequently used. The judges shall seek and identify any grants and donations from any public or private source for the purpose of enhancing the holdings of the libraries of each district. The judges shall study the existing rules promulgated by the circuit and chancery court judicial associations governing the operation of chancery and circuit courts, and revise the same pursuant to existing laws. For such extra services each judge, from and after January 1, 2004, shall receive a sum sufficient when added to the present salaries of the judges to aggregate One Hundred Four Thousand One Hundred Seventy Dollars ($ 104,170.00) per annum for each judge. Upon the expiration of the existing term, the above-captioned salaries become effective in due course, and the extra duties and compensation provided for shall cease.

(4) The Supreme Court shall prepare a payroll for chancery judges and circuit judges and submit such payroll to the Department of Finance and Administration.

(5) The annual salary of the full-time district attorneys shall be Ninety-five Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety-six Dollars ($ 95,796.00).

(6) The annual salary of the full-time legal assistants shall be not less than Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($ 15,000.00) nor more than eighty percent (80%) of the salary of the district attorney for legal assistants who have been licensed to practice law for five (5) years or less; eighty-five percent (85%) of the salary of the district attorney for legal assistants who have been licensed to practice law for at least five (5) years but less than fifteen (15) years; and ninety percent (90%) of the salary of the district attorney for legal assistants who have been licensed to practice law for at least fifteen (15) years or more.

[Effective from and after the later of the date Laws of 2012, ch. 329, is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended, or January 1, 2013, this section will read:]

(1) The annual salaries of the following judges are fixed as follows:

From and after January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013:

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court..............................$ 126,292.50

Presiding Justices of the Supreme Court, each.....................123,600.75

Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, each.....................122,460.00

From and after January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014:

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court............................ $ 137,195.00

Presiding Justices of the Supreme Court, each.....................134,011.50

Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, each.....................132,390.00

From and after January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015:

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court............................ $ 148,097.50

Presiding Justices of the Supreme Court, each.....................144,422.25

Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, each.....................142,320.00

From and after January 1, 2016:

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court............................ $ 159,000.00

Presiding Justices of the Supreme Court, each.....................154,833.00

Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, each.....................152,250.00

There are imposed upon the Supreme Court justices the extra duties of

taking all necessary action to promote judicial education in schools, drug

courts, electronic filing and case management systems as developed by the

Administrative Office of Courts, or such other additional duties as may be

assigned by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. For such extra services

each justice, from and after January 1, 2013, shall receive a sum sufficient

to aggregate, per annum, the salaries set forth in this subsection (1).

The fixed salaries in this subsection (1) shall be paid from the State

General Fund and from the Judicial System Operation Fund created under Section

9-21-45. No less than: One Hundred Fifteen Thousand Three Hundred Ninety

Dollars ($ 115,390.00) of the Chief Justice's salary in this subsection (1),

One Hundred Thirteen Thousand One Hundred Ninety Dollars ($ 113,190.00) of the

salary of a Presiding Justice in this subsection (1), and One Hundred Twelve

Thousand Five Hundred Thirty Dollars ($112,530.00) of the salary of an

Associate Justice in this subsection (1) shall be paid from General Fund

monies; in addition, the Legislature shall appropriate annually from the

Judicial System Operation Fund a sum sufficient to increase the salary of the

Chief Justice, a Presiding Justice and an Associate Justice to the levels set

forth in this subsection (1).

The fixed salaries as specified in this subsection (1) shall be the

exclusive and total compensation which can be reported to the Public

Employees' Retirement System for retirement purposes; however, any judge in

office on December 31, 2003, may continue to report his expense allowance as

part of his compensation for retirement purposes.

(2) The annual salaries of the judges of the Court of Appeals of

Mississippi are fixed as follows:

From and after January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013:

Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals........................... $ 117,992.00

Associate Judges of the Court of Appeals, each....................114,994.25

From and after January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014:

Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals........................... $ 127,854.00

Associate Judges of the Court of Appeals, each....................124,938.50

From and after January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015:

Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals........................... $ 137,716.00

Associate Judges of the Court of Appeals, each. 134,882.75

From and after January 1, 2016:

Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals........................... $ 147,578.00

Associate Judges of the Court of Appeals, each....................144,827.00

From and after January 1, 2013, each judge shall receive a sum sufficient

to aggregate, per annum, the salaries set forth in this subsection (2).

The fixed salaries in this subsection (2) shall be paid from the State

General Fund and from the Judicial System Operation Fund created under Section

9-21-45. No less than One Hundred Eight Thousand One Hundred Thirty Dollars ($

108,130.00) of the Chief Judge's salary in this subsection (2) shall be paid

from General Fund monies; in addition, the Legislature shall appropriate

annually from the Judicial System Operation Fund a sum sufficient to increase

the Chief Judge's salary to the level set forth in this subsection (2). No

less than One Hundred Five Thousand Fifty Dollars ($ 105,050.00) of the salary

of an Associate Judge in this subsection (2) shall be paid from General Fund

monies; in addition, the Legislature shall appropriate annually from the

Judicial System Operation Fund a sum sufficient to increase the salary of an

Associate Judge to the level set forth in this subsection (2).

The fixed salaries as specified in this subsection (2) shall be the

exclusive and total compensation which can be reported to the Public

Employees' Retirement System for retirement purposes; however, any judge in

office on December 31, 2003, may continue to report his expense allowance as

part of his compensation for retirement purposes.

(3) The annual salaries of the chancery and circuit court judges are fixed

as follows:

From and after January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013:

Chancery Judges, each...........................................$ 112,127.50

Circuit Judges, each..............................................112,127.50

From and after January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014:

Chancery Judges, each...........................................$ 120,085.00

Circuit Judges, each..............................................120,085.00

From and after January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015:

Chancery Judges, each...........................................$ 128,042.50

Circuit Judges, each..............................................128,042.50

From and after January 1, 2016:

Chancery Judges, each...........................................$ 136,000.00

Circuit Judges, each..............................................136,000.00

In addition to their present official duties, the circuit and chancery

judges shall take necessary action to promote judicial education in schools,

drug courts, electronic filing and case management systems as developed by the

Administrative Office of Courts, or such other additional duties as may be

assigned by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. For such extra services

each judge, from and after January 1, 2013, shall receive a sum sufficient to

aggregate, per annum, the salaries set forth in this subsection (3).

The fixed salaries in this subsection (3) shall be paid from the State

General Fund and from the Judicial System Operation Fund created under Section

9-21-45. No less than One Hundred Four Thousand One Hundred Seventy Dollars ($

104,170.00) of the salary of a Chancery or Circuit Judge in this subsection

(3) shall be paid from General Fund monies; in addition, the Legislature shall

appropriate annually from the Judicial System Operation Fund a sum sufficient

to increase the salary of a Chancery or Circuit Judge to the levels set forth

in this subsection (3).

(4) From and after January 1, 2019, and every four (4) years thereafter,

the annual salaries of the judges in subsections (1), (2) and (3) shall be

fixed at the level of compensation recommended by the State Personnel Board

according to the board's most recent report on judicial salaries, as required

under Section 25-9-115, to the extent that sufficient funds are available. The

annual salaries fixed in accordance with this subsection (4) shall not become

effective until the commencement of the next immediately succeeding term of

office.

(5) The Supreme Court shall prepare a payroll for chancery judges and

circuit judges and submit such payroll to the Department of Finance and

Administration.

(6) The annual salary of the full-time district attorneys shall be:

From and after January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2013:

One Hundred Three Thousand Three Hundred Twenty-two Dollars ($ 103,322.00).

From and after January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2014:

One Hundred Ten Thousand Eight Hundred Forty-eight Dollars ($ 110,848.00).

From and after January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015:

One Hundred Eighteen Thousand Three Hundred Seventy-four Dollars ($

118,374.00).

From and after January 1, 2016:

One Hundred Twenty-five Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars ($ 125,900.00).

(7) The annual salary of the full-time legal assistants shall be not less than Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($ 15,000.00) nor more than eighty percent (80%) of the salary of the district attorney for legal assistants who have been licensed to practice law for five (5) years or less; eighty-five percent (85%) of the salary of the district attorney for legal assistants who have been licensed to practice law for at least five (5) years but less than fifteen (15) years; and ninety percent (90%) of the salary of the district attorney for legal assistants who have been licensed to practice law for at least fifteen (15) years or more.