Judges' pay increase is about time: 9 years

The state House Judiciary Committee recently approved a bill that, after nine years without an increase, would award a 27 percent pay increase to state judges.

Such an increase is well deserved; it is only proper that the house has finally attempted to rectify the matter.

While 27 percent seems like a huge increase in pay for these judges, this amount must be taken into context. y the time this bill is (hopefully) fully approved and initiated, these judges will have not experience a pay raise of any sort for almost a decade.

When viewed as a 2.5 percent increase annualized over ten years, it becomes apparent that the pay raise barely matches the annual rate of inflation for this time period. Judges, regardless of experience, will have had stagnant pay since 1990.

Judges serve an important role in our criminal and governmental process; it is necessary that we attract high quality, objective, intelligent people to fill these positions.

If we refuse, there will be little incentive for lawyers to give up their lucrative private practice for public service.