In counties where voting machines or electronic voting systems are used, the procedures of section eleven, article four, chapter three and section twelve, article four-a of said chapter three of this code shall apply respectively to the election of magistrates in the same manner as they apply to the election of members of the House of Delegates.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section seven, article five, chapter three of this code, for purposes of the primary election to be held in the year one thousand nine hundred seventy- six, the last day for filing certificates of candidacy for the office of magistrate shall be extended to the twenty-seventh day of February of that year.
(b) The number of magistrates serving in each county of the state shall comport with the numbers certified by the supreme court of appeals to the ballot commissioners of each county on or before the thirty-first day of January, two thousand, for purposes of the primary and general elections to be held in the year two thousand.
(c)(1) The Legislature finds that there exists among the various counties large and unwarranted disparities of caseload between the magistrate courts. The Legislature further finds that the disparity causes an inequity with regard to magistrate court resources and the ability of the courts to effectively meet the needs of the citizens of this state who need to avail themselves of this judicial resource. The Legislature further finds that the system currently in place for allocating magistrate court resources which has been in effect since the year one thousand nine hundred ninety-one produces certain anomalies which cause quadrennial reallocation of magistrate resources based upon said anomalies which in turn cause a waste of funds, inequitable workloads, unnecessary shifting of resources and confusion among the various counties.
(2) The office of legislative services is hereby directed to undertake a comprehensive study of the magistrate courts of the various counties to determine, among other things, the work performed by various personnel in the magistrate court system, how work time is spent by said employees and to report its findings no later than the tenth day of December, two thousand one, to the joint standing committee on the judiciary.
(3) The division of criminal justice and highway safety shall, in conjunction with the administrative office of the West Virginia supreme court of appeals, compile for consideration by the Legislature statistical information and documentation regarding caseloads, cases handled per year per magistrate, cases per county, cases per circuit and provide to the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Delegates no later than the first day of the regular session of the Legislature, two thousand two, their recommendations for improving the magistrate process, better utilization of court resources, including, but not limited to, categorizing the various types of cases heard in magistrate court and developing a new weighted formula to evaluate types of cases by the amount of time necessary to bring said cases to a resolution.
(d) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, the allowable number of magistrates serving the counties of Berkeley and Nicholas on the first day of March, two thousand one, shall be increased by one in each county, effective the first day of July, two thousand one. The initial appointment to the position shall be made in accordance with the provisions of section six of this article.
(1) The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has held that a salary system for magistrates which is based upon the population that each magistrate serves does not violate the equal protection clause of the Constitution of the United States;
(2) The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has held that a salary system for magistrates which is based upon the population that each magistrate serves does not violate section thirty-nine, article VI of the Constitution of West Virginia;
(3) The utilization of a two-tiered salary schedule for magistrates is an equitable and rational manner by which magistrates should be compensated for work performed;
(4) Organizing the two tiers of the salary schedule into one tier for magistrates serving less than eight thousand four hundred in population and the second tier for magistrates serving eight thousand four hundred or more in population is rational and equitable given current statistical information relating to population and caseload; and
(5) That all magistrates who fall under the same tier should be compensated equally.
(b) The salary of each magistrate shall be paid by the state. Magistrates who serve fewer than eight thousand four hundred in population shall be paid annual salaries of thirty thousand six hundred twenty-five dollars and magistrates who serve eight thousand four hundred or more in population shall be paid annual salaries of thirty-seven thousand dollars: Provided, That on and after the first day of July, two thousand three, magistrates who serve fewer than eight thousand four hundred in population shall be paid annual salaries of thirty-three thousand six hundred twenty- five dollars and magistrates who serve eight thousand four hundred or more in population shall be paid annual salaries of forty thousand dollars: Provided, however, That on and after the first day of July, two thousand five, magistrates who serve fewer than eight thousand four hundred in population shall be paid annual salaries of forty-three thousand six hundred twenty-five dollars and magistrates who serve eight thousand four hundred or more in population shall be paid annual salaries of fifty thousand dollars. Provided further, That on and after the first day of July, 2011, magistrates who serve fewer than eight thousand four hundred in population shall be paid annual salaries of $51,125 and magistrates who serve eight thousand four hundred or more in population shall be paid annual salaries of $57,500.
(c) For the purpose of determining the population served by each magistrate, the number of magistrates authorized for each county shall be divided into the population of each county. For the purpose of this article, the population of each county is the population as determined by the last preceding decennial census taken under the authority of the United States government.
No person shall assume the duties of magistrate unless he shall have first attended and completed a course of instruction in rudimentary principles of law and procedure which shall be given in accordance with the supervisory rules of the supreme court of appeals.
All magistrates shall be required to attend such other courses of continuing educational instruction as may be required by supervisory rule of the supreme court of appeals. Failure to attend such courses of continuing educational instruction without good cause shall constitute neglect of duty. Such courses shall be provided at least once every other year. Persons attending such courses outside of the county of their residence shall be reimbursed by the state for expenses actually incurred in accordance with the supervisory rules of the supreme court of appeals.
Each magistrate shall, before assuming the duties of office, take an oath of office to be administered by the circuit judge of the county, or the chief judge thereof if there is more than one judge of the circuit court. Each magistrate shall maintain the qualifications for office at all times.
Each magistrate who serves five thousand or less in population shall devote such time to his public duties as shall be required by rule or regulation of the judge of the circuit court, or the chief judge thereof if there is more than one judge of the circuit court. Each magistrate who serves more than five thousand in population shall devote full time to his public duties. As nearly as practicable, the workload and the total number of hours required shall be divided evenly among the magistrates in a county by such judge.
A magistrate may be censured or temporarily suspended in accordance with the rules of the supreme court of appeals.
Subject to the provisions of section one, article ten, chapter three of this code, when a vacancy occurs in the office of magistrate, the judge of the circuit court, or the chief judge thereof if there is more than one judge of the circuit court, shall fill the same by appointment of a person of the same political party as the officeholder vacating the office.
At a general election in which a magistrate is elected for an unexpired term, the circuit judge, or the chief judge thereof if there is more than one judge of the circuit court, shall cause a notice of such election to be published prior to such election as a Class II-0 legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, and the publication area for such publication shall be the county involved. If the vacancy occurs before the primary election held to nominate candidates to be voted for at the general election, at which any such vacancy is to be filled, candidates to fill such vacancy shall be nominated at such primary election in accordance with the time requirements and the provisions and procedures prescribed in article five, chapter three of this code. Otherwise, they shall be nominated by the county executive committee in the manner provided in section nineteen, article five, chapter three of this code, as in the case of filling vacancies in nominations, and the names of the persons so nominated and certified to the clerk of the circuit court of such county shall be placed upon the ballot to be voted at such next general election.
(b) Magistrate court clerks shall be paid a monthly salary by the state. Magistrate court clerks serving magistrates who serve less than eight thousand four hundred in population shall be paid up to twenty-six thousand four hundred thirty-six dollars per year and magistrate court clerks serving magistrates who serve eight thousand four hundred or more in population shall be paid up to thirty-one thousand three hundred forty-four dollars per year: Provided, That on and after the first day of July, two thousand six, magistrate court clerks serving magistrates who serve less than eight thousand four hundred in population shall be paid up to thirty-one thousand four hundred thirty-six dollars per year and magistrate court clerks serving magistrates who serve eight thousand four hundred or more in population shall be paid up to thirty-six thousand three hundred forty-four dollars per year: Provided, however, That on and after the first day of July, two thousand seven, magistrate court clerks serving magistrates who serve less than eight thousand four hundred in population shall be paid up to thirty-six thousand four hundred thirty-six dollars per year and magistrate court clerks serving magistrates who serve eight thousand four hundred or more in population shall be paid up to forty-one thousand three hundred forty-four dollars per year: Provided further, That after the effective date of this section, any general salary increase granted to all state employees, whose salaries are not set by statute, expressed as a percentage increase or an "across-the-board" increase, may also be granted to magistrate court clerks. For the purpose of determining the population served by each magistrate, the number of magistrates authorized for each county shall be divided into the population of each county. The salary of the magistrate court clerk shall be established by the judge of the circuit court, or the chief judge of the circuit court if there is more than one judge of the circuit court, within the limits set forth in this section.
(c) In addition to other duties that may be imposed by the provisions of this chapter or by the rules of the Supreme Court of Appeals or the judge of the circuit court or the chief judge of the circuit court if there is more than one judge of the circuit court, it is the duty of the magistrate court clerk to establish and maintain appropriate dockets and records in a centralized system for the magistrate court, to assist in the preparation of the reports required of the court and to carry out on behalf of the magistrates or chief magistrate if a chief magistrate is appointed, the administrative duties of the court.
(d) The magistrate court clerk, or if there is no magistrate court clerk in the county, the clerk of the circuit court, may issue all manner of civil process and require the enforcement of subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum in magistrate court.
(b) A magistrate assistant shall have the duties, clerical or otherwise, assigned by the magistrate and prescribed by the rules of the Supreme Court of Appeals or the judge of the circuit court or the chief judge of the circuit court if there is more than one judge of the circuit court. In addition to these duties, magistrate assistants shall perform and are accountable to the magistrate court clerks with respect to the following duties:
(1) The preparation of summons in civil actions;
(2) The assignment of civil actions to the various magistrates;
(3) The collection of all costs, fees, fines, forfeitures and penalties which are payable to the court;
(4) The submission of moneys, along with an accounting of the moneys, to appropriate authorities as provided by law;
(5) The daily disposition of closed files which are to be located in the magistrate clerk's office;
(6) All duties related to the gathering of information and documents necessary for the preparation of administrative reports and documents required by the rules of the Supreme Court of Appeals or the judge of the circuit court or the chief judge of the circuit court if there is more than one judge of the circuit court;
(7) All duties relating to the notification, certification and payment of jurors serving pursuant to the terms of this chapter;
(8) All other duties or responsibilities whereby the magistrate assistant is accountable to the magistrate court clerk as determined by the magistrate.
(c) Magistrate assistants shall be paid a monthly salary by the state. Magistrate assistants serving magistrates who serve less than eight thousand four hundred in population shall be paid up to twenty-three thousand one hundred forty-eight dollars per year and magistrate assistants serving magistrates who serve eight thousand four hundred or more in population shall be paid up to twenty-six thousand two hundred forty-four dollars per year: Provided, That on and after the first day of July, two thousand six, magistrate assistants serving magistrates who serve less than eight thousand four hundred in population shall be paid up to twenty-eight thousand one hundred forty-eight dollars per year and magistrate assistants serving magistrates who serve eight thousand four hundred or more in population shall be paid up to thirty-one thousand two hundred forty-four dollars per year: Provided, however, That on and after the first day of July, two thousand seven, magistrate assistants serving magistrates who serve less than eight thousand four hundred in population shall be paid up to thirty-three thousand one hundred forty-eight dollars per year and magistrate assistants serving magistrates who serve eight thousand four hundred or more in population shall be paid up to thirty-six thousand two hundred forty-four dollars per year: Provided further, That after the effective date of this section, any general salary increase granted to all state employees, whose salaries are not set by statute, expressed as a percentage increase or an "across-the-board" increase, may also be granted to magistrate assistants. For the purpose of determining the population served by each magistrate, the number of magistrates authorized for each county shall be divided into the population of each county. The salary of the magistrate assistant shall be established by the magistrate within the limits set forth in this section.
(b) Magistrate court deputy clerks shall have the duties, clerical or otherwise, as may be assigned by the magistrate court clerk and as may be prescribed by the rules of the Supreme Court of Appeals or the judge of the circuit court or the chief judge if there is more than one judge of the circuit court. Magistrate court deputy clerks may also exercise the power and perform the duties of the magistrate court clerk as may be delegated or assigned by the magistrate court clerk.
(c) A magistrate court deputy clerk may not be an immediate family member of any magistrate, magistrate court clerk, magistrate assistant or judge of the circuit court within the same county, may not have been convicted of a felony or any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude and must reside in this state. For purposes of this subsection, "immediate family member" means a mother, father, sister, brother, child or spouse.
(d) Magistrate court deputy clerks shall be paid an annual salary by the state on the same basis and in the same amounts established for magistrate assistants in each county, as provided in section nine of this article.
Magistrates who serve at more than one location within the county, whether on a regular or temporary basis, shall be reimbursed travel expenses for travel between locations at a rate per mile equal to that allowed for reimbursement of travel expenses of officers in the judicial branch of state government.
(a) Acquire or hold any interest in any matter which is before the magistrate court;
(b) Purchase, either directly or indirectly, any property being sold upon execution issued by the magistrate court;
(c) Act as agent or attorney for any party in any proceeding in any magistrate court in the state; or
(d) Engage in, or assist in, any remunerative endeavor, except the duties of his office, while on the premises of the magistrate court office.
Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of official misconduct and shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.
Nothing contained in this section shall preclude a magistrate, magistrate court clerk, magistrate court deputy clerk, or magistrate assistant from being a party to an action in the magistrate court: Provided, That any action in which the magistrate court clerk is a party shall not be assigned to the chief magistrate nor shall any action in which a magistrate court deputy clerk or magistrate assistant is a party be assigned or heard by the magistrate for whom such magistrate assistant is employed or to whose court such deputy clerk is assigned.
(b) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals or judge of the circuit court of the county in which a magistrate is elected, or the chief judge thereof if there is more than one judge of the circuit court, may by order direct a magistrate to serve temporarily in any other county within the judicial circuit for such purposes as the judge may direct. The magistrate's authority, to the extent ordered by the judge, shall be equal to the jurisdiction and authority of a magistrate elected in the county to which the magistrate is ordered to serve. The temporary assignment may not exceed sixty days in length in any given calendar year, except with the consent of the transferred magistrate.
(c) A magistrate who is temporarily assigned to a county with a higher salary schedule for magistrates than the salary schedule in the county from which the magistrate was elected, shall be reimbursed for the difference of the salary in the assigned county and the lower salary which the magistrate received in the county of election, prorated for the number of days of the temporary assignment. An assigned magistrate may not be reimbursed on a pro rata basis for less than the salary received in the county of that magistrate's election.
(d) A magistrate shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in service outside of the county, as provided by rule of the Supreme Court of Appeals.
Subject to the supervision of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals or of the judge of the circuit court, or the chief judge thereof if there is more than one judge of the circuit court, it shall be the duty of the sheriff, or his or her designated deputy, to serve as bailiff of a magistrate court upon the request of the magistrate. Such service shall also be subject to such administrative rules as may be promulgated by the Supreme Court of Appeals. A writ of mandamus shall lie on behalf of a magistrate to enforce the provisions of this section.
(b) The sheriff of any county may employ, by and with the consent of the county commission, one or more persons whose sole duties shall be the service of civil process and the service of subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum. Any such person shall not be considered a deputy or deputy sheriff within the meaning of subdivision (2), subsection (a), section two, article fourteen, chapter seven of this code, nor shall any such person be authorized to carry deadly weapons in the performance of his or her duties: Provided, That the sheriff may authorize an employee whose sole duties involve service of civil process to carry a firearm if the employee completes all training requirements otherwise applicable to deputy sheriffs for the use and handling of firearms: Provided, however, That the sheriff may authorize previously certified West Virginia law-enforcement officers to carry a deadly weapon in the performance of the duties of the officers under the provisions of this section: Provided further, That these officers and employees maintain yearly weapons qualifications and are bonded through the office of the sheriff.
Immediately after the expiration of his term of office and in no event later than thirty days thereafter each justice of the peace shall pay over to appropriate authorities or persons such moneys as may be held by him and submit such reports to such authorities or persons as are required by law.
Every justice of the peace, upon the expiration of his term of office, shall forthwith deliver his official docket, together with such dockets of his predecessors as he may have, to the magistrate court clerk or, if there is no magistrate court clerk, to the clerk of the circuit court, who shall maintain such dockets as directed by the supreme court of appeals or by the judge of the circuit court, or the chief judge thereof if there is more than one judge of the circuit court.
No act done by a justice of the peace prior to the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred seventy-seven, shall be affected by virtue of the abolition of the office of justice of the peace. Matters pending before a justice of the peace prior to such date or which might otherwise require further action by a justice of the peace shall be handled by the magistrate to whom such matter is assigned or in such other manner as may be ordered by the judge of the circuit court, or the chief judge thereof if there is more than one judge of the circuit court.
Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session
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