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April 4, 2006

Debate over traffic judge's pension heading to court

PROVIDENCE -- The debate over former Traffic Tribunal Judge Marjorie R. Yashar’s pension now heads to the courts.

Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch plans to ask a Superior Court judge tomorrow to interpret the law as it pertains to Yashar’s pension.

Lynch’s staff has determined that the eight months Yashar spent on unpaid leave do not make her eligible to receive a pension equal to 100 percent of her final salary. State Court Administrator J. Joseph Baxter has a different interpretation. He says that judges’ pensions are based solely on their hire and retirement dates.

To clarify the situation, Lynch will seek a declaratory ruling from a judge tomorrow, according to his spokesman, Michael J. Healey. A hearing is expected to be scheduled at a later date.

The Providence Journal reported last week that by getting credit for eight months of unpaid leave, Yashar’s annual pension was boosted from $81,650 to $120,310. The pension comes with a 3-percent annual cost-of-living increase.

-- Journal staff writer Scott Mayerowitz

Posted by Andrea Panciera  at 1:45 PM | Permalink

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