Title
RESOLUTION APPOINTING SUBSTITUTE JUDGES
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Summary and Background Information:
The Commerce City Municipal Court needs substitute judges as the previous associate judge is relocating out of state. Council has the authority to appoint substitute judges through resolution. Substitute judges can perform the same duties as the presiding judge in the event the presiding judge is unavailable. The appointment of the substitute judges will give the municipal court greater flexibility in operations. Without substitute judges, the municipal court cannot function in the absence of the presiding judge.
This resolution authorizes the appointment of Melissa Beato as an associate municipal court judge and Michele Kline as a relief municipal court judge. The associate municipal court judge will serve as the primary substitute, with the relief municipal court judge as the secondary. The pay for both of these judges is set as $100 per hour, and Melissa Beato will additionally receive payment for an annual membership to the Colorado Municipal Judges Association. These appointments will remain in effect until the judges resign or the appointments are revoked by Council.
Both Melissa Beato and Michelle Kline have prior experience as municipal court judges in the region. Ms. Kline has 15 years of experience as a city attorney and an additional 4 years’ experience as a municipal judge and is currently the presiding municipal judge for the Town of Keenesburg. Ms. Beato has served as a city attorney in the region for 8 years, and has prior experience as a presiding municipal judge for the Town of Keenesburg, and as an associate judge for Brighton and Erie.
Staff Responsible (Department Head): Troy Smith, Deputy City Manager
Staff Member Presenting: Troy Smith, Deputy City Manager
Financial Impact: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
Staff Recommendation: Approve substitute judges.
Suggested Motion: Approve on the consent agenda.