2-16-403. Salaries of supreme court justices. (1) Subject to subsection (3), the salary of the chief justice of the supreme court is as follows:
     (a) $67,595 beginning July 1, 1995;
     (b) $70,231 beginning January 1, 1996.
     (2) Subject to subsection (3), the salary of a justice of the supreme court is as follows:
     (a) $66,289 beginning July 1, 1995;
     (b) $68,874 beginning January 1, 1996.
     (3) Prior to June 30, 1996, and prior to June 30 of each even-numbered year thereafter, the department of administration shall conduct a salary survey of justices and chief justices of the highest appellate courts similar to the Montana supreme court for the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Idaho. The department shall include the salary for a Montana supreme court justice or the chief justice in determining the average salary for a justice and the average salary for the chief justice. If the average salaries are greater than the salaries for a supreme court justice or the chief justice in Montana, then beginning July 1, 1997, the average salaries are the new salaries for a supreme court justice or the chief justice. In each year following the year in which a survey is conducted, the average salary is the new salary for the position. A justice's salary or the chief justice's salary may not be reduced.

     History: En. Sec. 16, Ch. 455, L. 1995.