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Monday, June 16, 2008
Ind. Courts - More on "New judge's hires stir up controversy"
Updaitng this ILB entry from June 14th, Harold J. Adams of the Louisville Courier Journal reports today in a lengthy story that begins:
A staff shakeup by new Clark Circuit Court Judge Abraham Navarro, a Republican, has prompted an outcry from the county's other three judges, all Democrats, over allegations ranging from political conflicts of interest to age and sex discrimination.The other judges say that female workers in the court's offices were fired, and that Navarro is replacing them with younger men -- including the chairman of the Clark County Republican Party -- who will be paid higher base salaries.
Navarro says the men will face a heavier workload that justifies the higher pay, a fact disputed by the other judges. The county's GOP chairman, David Buskill, calls the complaints nothing more than political sour grapes.
Navarro was appointed last month by Gov. Mitch Daniels to fill the seven months left in the term of Daniel Donahue, who retired.
On June 6, Navarro's fourth day in office, he fired two female court reporters with 24 and eight years of service, respectively.
He replaced one woman with Jeremy Snelling, the son of Republican Clark County Councilman Monty Snelling, and offered the redefined job of the other woman to Buskill.
Navarro also requested, and won approval from the County Council last Monday, to start the new workers at higher base salaries than similar female workers earn in the county's other three courts and offices.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on June 16, 2008 08:31 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts