Sec. 7. 4 MRSA §157, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §8, is further amended to read:

3. Deputy Chief Judge; salary. The Deputy Chief Judge of the District Court is entitled to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998-99 2001-02 and thereafter, of $92,000 $104,214, to be paid biweekly.

Sec. 8. 4 MRSA §157, sub-§4, ķA, as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §9, is amended to read:

A. For fiscal year 1998-99 2001-02 and thereafter, $90,000 $102,043, to be paid biweekly.

Sec. 9. 4 MRSA §157-D, as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §10, is further amended to read:

§157-D. Active retired judges; compensation

Any Active Retired Judge of the District Court, who performs judicial service at the direction and assignment of the Chief Judge of the District Court, is compensated for those services at the rate of $200 $300 per day or $125 $175 per 1/2 day, provided that the total per diem compensation and retirement pension received by an Active Retired Judge of the District Court in any calendar year does not exceed the annual salary of a Judge of the District Court.

SUMMARY

This bill implements certain recommendations of the Judicial Compensation Commission established by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 4, chapter 35. The bill includes a number of changes that, taken together, form a comprehensive plan for attracting the most highly qualified candidates to the bench by improving the compensation provided to the State's judiciary. The bill increases the direct compensation for the State's judges and justices and increases the per diem rate for Active Retired Judges.