§4-2C-1. Judicial Compensation Commission established; membership.

(a) The Judicial Compensation Commission is hereby established as an advisory commission to the West Virginia Legislature. The commission shall be responsible for studying the compensation structure for justices of the Supreme Court of Appeals, circuit court judges, family court judges, magistrates and any other judicial officer subject to election and which office requires the judge to hold a professional license to serve in that position. The commission shall also be responsible for determining and making recommendation as to the adequate compensation for those positions to ensure that highly qualified persons will be attracted to serve on the bench.

(b)The commission shall be comprised of the following five members:

(1) The Dean of the West Virginia University College of Law;

(2) Two individuals appointed by the President of the Senate; and

(3) Two individuals appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates.

(c) Any person appointed to serve on the commission pursuant to subdivisions (2) and (3), subsection (b) of this section shall serve for four years: Provided, That no public employee, elected public official, person receiving a pension from the State of West Virginia, member of the West Virginia State Bar or officer of a state or county political party executive committee established pursuant to W.Va. Code §3-1-9 may be appointed pursuant to subdivision (2) or (3) subsection (b) of this section to serve on the commission. The initial appointments to the commission shall be made by July 1, 2016.  Upon expiration of any term, the person previously appointed shall continue to serve until his or her successor is duly appointed and qualified to serve on the commission.

(d) A member of the commission is not eligible for appointment to a state judicial position as long as he or she is serving as a member of the commission.

(e) The members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed by the Joint Committee on Government and Finance for reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out the responsibilities of the commission. Commission members shall be reimbursed at the same rate established for public employees.

(f) In the event of a vacancy on the commission, the unexpired term shall be filled in the same manner used to make the original appointment within sixty days of the vacancy.