Municipal court judge sues city over pay cut

February 28, 2011

Washington: In late February, Bainbridge Island Municipal Court Judge Kathryn Carruthers filed a lawsuit against the city of Bainbridge Island after they reduced her salary and benefits from the two-thirds she receives to half of a full-time equivalent. This action led her to sue based on Article 11, Section 8 of the State Constitution, which she says, "forbids the salary of any elected or appointed officer (including judges) from being reduced during the middle of his or her fixed term of office." The city responded by saying that budget issues, a reduced caseload, and Carruthers having agreed to an "appropriations" clause when signing her contract makes the reduction valid. In addition to believing that the city has violated the constitution because the clause mentioned only contract termination and not modifications to the contract, Carruthers also claims that the city did not reduce her caseload, but in fact, increased it.