Arbitrator rules in favor Beaufort County in magistrate judge salary dispute

An arbitrator in a salary dispute between Beaufort County and its magistrate judges has issued a ruling in favor of the county.

Retired S.C. Court of Appeals Judge Danny Pieper was brought in as an arbitrator earlier this year to help determine whether the judges are entitled to a 2 percent raise in addition to the 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment given to them and all county employees last year.

When the showdown came to a head in January, Beaufort County administrator Gary Kubic argued the raises would be too expensive for county taxpayers, particularly given 12 of the 16 judges work only part-time.

Chief Magistrate Lawrence McElynn countered at the time that the judges were entitled to the additional 2 percent adjustment granted in 2014 by state lawmakers.

In his ruling, Pieper wrote that “law suggests that the magistrates are not entitled to both the state and county salary adjustments.”

In other words, the judges should not receive both the 3 percent raise given to all employees as well an extra 2 percent pay bump.

Rather, the judges are only entitled to the “larger of the two increases,” Pieper ruled.

“Obviously, we are pleased with this decision,” Kubic said in an email Monday afternoon.

Reached by phone Tuesday morning, McElynn said he was aware of the mediator’s decision.

Beyond that, “it’s best to say I have no comment at this time,” he said.

This story was originally published March 30, 2016 at 12:46 PM with the headline "Arbitrator rules in favor Beaufort County in magistrate judge salary dispute."