North Carolina Judge Grants Class-Action Status to Magistrates’ Pay Lawsuit

A judge is approving class-action status to a lawsuit saying North Carolina has broken its promise to give magistrates pay raises.

Forty magistrates filed the lawsuit last year. But with Superior Court Judge Michael O’Foghludha’s ruling, the number could jump to more than 500.

Magistrates make $37,000 to $57,000 a year, based on the number of years of experience.

An attorney for the magistrates, David Wijewickrama, praised the ruling, saying the state employees have earned the money.

Magistrate pay is set by statute. But the lawsuit says magistrates haven’t gotten pay raises since 2009.

The lawsuit is similar to one filed last year by Wijewickrama on the behalf of state Highway Patrol troopers, who say they’re facing severe financial hardships because they haven’t gotten pay raises as promised.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation North Carolina