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Part-time magistrate judge asks Dawson County to pause consideration of pay cuts tied to on-call hours
Summary
Amanda Bridal, a part-time magistrate judge, urged the Dawson County Board of Commissioners to delay any decision to reduce part-time magistrate pay for on-call hours, saying the caselaw cited by county attorneys is not analogous and that on-call duties impose real restrictions on judges' time and safety.
Amanda Bridal, a part-time magistrate judge in Dawson County, urged the county commissioners during public comment on Oct. 16 to pause consideration of proposed pay reductions for part-time magistrates tied to on‑call hours.
Bridal said the county attorney's recommendation relied on decades‑old cases she considers inapplicable. “These are cases that are over 20 years old and these cases are not analogous to the position,” she said, naming Jennings v. McIntosh County Board of Commissioners and Maddox v. Hayes as examples discussed in the county materials.
Bridal described the practical constraints of being on call. She said judges must “carry this around with me all weekend,” including a laptop to access the warrant system, a router for a secure connection and a phone. She said on-call duty requires avoiding medications that cause drowsiness, staying within areas that have cell service and remaining prepared to research statutes and make time‑sensitive decisions. “We have to have a clear mind when we are on call all weekend, and we can get calls at any time, any time of day,” she said.
Bridal said she had not been asked to detail her on‑call activities and asked the board to gather more information before acting. “I would just ask that the board at this point at least just pause any consideration of this decision and further vet and do due due diligence on the issue,” she said.
The comment came during the public‑comment portion of the Oct. 16 Dawson County Board of Commissioners meeting. The board did not take immediate action on the matter at that meeting; the transcript records Bridal’s remarks but no formal motion or vote on magistrate compensation during the session.
