House Bill 119

Chair's Name: Wendell Willard

Committee: Judiciary Civil

House Sponsor: Wendell Willard

HB 119 raises the salaries for Supreme Court Justices to $170,500.00; Judges of the Court of Appeals to $169,500.00; and Superior Court Judges to $128,400.00. The salary currently in the statute was set in 1999. Since then, the judges have received the standard cost-of-living adjustments given to state employees, thus the salary figure currently in the statute is not the actual salary now being paid. The new figure reflects a 5-10% increase based on the adjusted salaries.

This bill passed the House under the Open Rule. 

Chairman Willard's opinion of this legislation:

HB 119 addresses the growing pay disparity between private practice attorneys and judges that is decreasing the talent pool to choose from for vacant judgeships and reducing competition in judicial races.  There is a concern that some of our most qualified sitting judges may resign from the bench to return to private practice for financial reasons.  This bill raises the salaries of Superior Court by ten (10) percent.  It It raises Court of Appeals Judges and Superior Court Justices by five (5) percent. 

THIS LEGISLATION:

• Reduces financial hardship on the families of Judges and Justices, due to the disparity between private practice and government service.

Further Action

The Senate increased the salaries for the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals and decreased the salaries for Superior Court (p.1, ls 11-3). The Senate also make the increases subject to appropriations. The House agreed as amended by the House in order to restore the 10% raise for Superior Court Judges and adding the 5% raise for District Attorneys.