Kent Municipal Court, 1220 Central Ave. S. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent

Kent Municipal Court, 1220 Central Ave. S. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent

Kent Municipal Court judges to get annual pay increase of nearly $13,000

City Council agrees to match pay to what district court judges make across the state

Kent’s two municipal court judges will be getting a pay hike.

The Kent City Council’s Operations and Public Safety Committee agreed June 7 that annual pay for the judges should go to $193,447 from $180,614.

“This seems more than reasonable to me,” said City Councilmember Les Thomas.

Kent Mayor Dana Ralph and the municipal court administrator recommended that the council raise the pay to match salaries of district court judges across the state.

The council previously established the salaries of municipal court judges at 95% of the salary paid to district court judges. Currently, district judges make a salary of $190,120 per year, but that’s going up July 1 to $193,447.

“It does not make sense we do not pay our judges the same rate as district court judges when they do largely the same thing,” said city Interim Chief Administrative Officer Pat Fitzpatrick to the council.

The Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials sets the pay for district judges. That group also sets salaries for state Supreme Court justices and judges sitting on appeals and superior courts as well as legislators.

The Kent Municipal Court has jurisdiction over misdemeanor crimes, gross misdemeanors and civil infractions. The cases include petty theft, DUI, simple assault, prostitution, traffic violations and other similar cases.

“They are very very similar courts,” Fitzpatrick said. “You might think municipal court is inferior, but it’s not, it’s just a different boundary. It does the same work as district court with some exceptions for civil cases.”

Fitzpatrick said Kent Municipal Court handles plenty of cases and probably is bigger than 95% of the district courts in the state.

The amendment to the city code also will increase pay per hour to $70 from $60 for a judge pro tem who fills in for the regular judges when they are ill or attending conferences.

The full council will vote on the pay increases June 21 as part of its consent calendar, which are measures passed with one vote without discussion.

Kent has two municipal court judges, Anthony Gipe and Michael Frans. Voters elected each of them to four more years when they each ran unopposed in November 2021. Mayor Ralph appointed Gipe in 2019 following the retirement of Judge Glenn Phillips and appointed Frans in 2018 after the retirement of Judge Karli Jorgensen. They each filled out the previous four-year terms of the retired judges.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website http://kowloonland.com.hk/?big=submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Courtesy Photo, King County
Prolific tagger faces charges for damage to Kent water tower

Man one of dozens who reportedly tagged properties across King County, including West Hill tower

t
Federal Way man charged in Kent I-5 crash that killed passenger

Documents state that evidence reportedly showed he was the driver, but he blamed the passenger.

The Kent Police Department went all out with their “Moana” themed display - even Maui showed up. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
The Hogwarts Express pulls into Battle of the Badges | Photos

The 2024 Battle of the Badges took over the Renton Technical College on Dec. 14.

Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police
City of Kent crime numbers drop in 2024 compared to 2023

Vehicle thefts, commercial burglaries and robberies see big decreases

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Kent School District says it ‘will do better next time’ with school closures

Late notifications issued about closures after Dec. 18 windstorm

t
Kent Police arrest pair for downtown robbery of pedestrian

Reportedly used pepper spray to attack Kent man, 56, as he walked on sidewalk Dec. 16

Meeker Middle School, one of six schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18 in the Kent School District due to power outages from a windstorm. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Windstorm causes closure of six Kent schools due to power outages

Four elementary, two middle schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18; couple of city roads closed

Volunteers wrap gifts during the 2023 Toys for Joy program. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
Puget Sound Fire puts out plea for more Toys for Joy donations

Toys needed for children ages 9 to 12; more bikes, scooters requested; deadline is Dec. 20

t
Kent man, 19, faces multiple charges after pursuit near Wenatchee

Driver reportedly fails to stop for state trooper, crashes stolen vehicle along State Route 97

Kent School District Board Director Awale Farah, left, and Superintendent Israel Vela at a high school graduation last summer. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Awale Farah resigns immediately from Kent School Board

Says because of ‘family commitments’ he cannot fulfill rest of his term that expires in November 2025

t
Kent’s Lower Russell Levee project receives John Spellman Award

City, King County Flood District and other partners recognized for historic preservation

Northwood Middle School, 17007 SE 184th St., in unincorporated part of King County in Renton and part of the Kent School District. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Calls about man trying to access Northwood Middle School causes lockdown

Deputies arrest man for investigation of resisting arrest, obstruction at Kent School District property