IV, Sec. 9 Limit on Compensation of Master Commissioners, Deputies, and Clerical Staff
Part IV. Master Commissioners of the Circuit Court
Rule Text
(1) Personal compensation of the master commissioner derived from fees shall be limited to not more than the amount authorized by written order of the Chief Justice. Said limitation on compensation shall be disbursed on a prorated basis over a 12-month period, with the master commissioner receiving no more than 1/12 of his or her maximum annual personal compensation per month. Further, said limitation on compensation shall be prorated on a monthly basis where the master commissioner serves less than the entire year. Where a master commissioner also acts as a domestic relations commissioner, the fees generated by the office of master commissioner shall not be co-mingled with the fees generated by the office of domestic relations commissioner.
(2) Personal compensation of each deputy master commissioner derived from fees shall be limited to not more than the amount authorized by written order of the Chief Justice. Said limitation on compensation shall be disbursed on a prorated basis over a 12-month period, with the deputy master commissioner receiving no more than 1/12 of his or her maximum annual personal compensation per month. Further, said limitation on compensation shall be prorated on a monthly basis where the deputy commissioner serves less than the entire year. Salaries of clerical staff shall be set in accordance with the pay schedule established by the judicial personnel system. Any increase in personal compensation for clerical staff shall be in accordance with the allowed Court of Justice annual increment.
(3) Fees earned by the office in excess of the personal compensation of the master commissioner, less personal compensation of authorized deputies, authorized salaries of clerical staff, and authorized office expenses, shall be remitted as provided in Section 10(4) of these Rules; however, up to anticipated six months expenses, including the master commissioner salary, may be retained. Computation of anticipated six months expenses shall be supported by adequate records and documentary evidence which shall also be submitted with the annual accounting report tendered to the Administrative Office of the Courts, Department of Financial Services.
Amendment history: Amended by Order 2025-48, eff. 1-1-26; prior amendments eff. 1-1-25 (Order 2024-40), 3-4-24 (Order 2024-07), 1-1-23 (Order 2022-59), 9-20-21 (Order 2021-33), 1-1-19 (Order 2018-22), 1-1-16 (Order 2015-25), 1-1-12 (Order 2011-08), 1-1-11 (Order 2010-10), 7-1-06 (Order 2006-07), 3-1-06 (Order 2006-04), 7-1-04 (Order 2004-2); adopted by Order 2003-5, eff. 1-1-04