Next month, Gary Goodwin will start pulling double duty as municipal court judge for the second time in 10 years.
At least this time, he’ll get paid extra.
The city council Tuesday accepted the resignation of Municipal Judge Rhonda Hayes Ellis, who is retiring at the end of March. It later approved Goodwin, the court’s other judge, to fill in full-time and handle the court’s full docket until either Ellis’ replacement or an interim judge is appointed.
Goodwin agreed to take on the extra duty but asked the city to pay him double during that time frame. The council unanimously agreed to those terms.
Each municipal judge earns $25,623.26 per year, which is paid out in bi-weekly increments of $985.51. While Goodwin serves as the only municipal judge, his pay will be $1,971.02 bi-weekly.
Ellis was appointed to the bench in January 2016 to replace Marc Amos, who took a job as an assistant district attorney. Goodwin, who was appointed municipal judge the year prior, told the council he spent the three months leading to Ellis’ appointment handling the whole docket for no extra pay.
“You’re saying you’ve got to eat too, right?” Vice Mayor Joseph Mickens, who represents Ward 2, asked Goodwin on Tuesday.
“If I’m up here on what would be Judge Rhonda’s day, that’s something I can’t replace at my office, and I have to back things down on my private calendar,” replied Goodwin, who also operates a private law practice.
Goodwin said even this go round he did not want to pull double-duty long-term, and he thinks it’s important for the court to have two judges.
Mayor Keith Gaskin told The Dispatch after Tuesday’s meeting the city would begin advertising for a second municipal judge “soon.”
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
