Georgia Supreme Court Chief Lobbies For Pay Raises
State revenues are growing at a healthy clip and lawmakers are deciding where to spread the riches. The judiciary wants sizable pay raises: $25,000 for judges on the Supreme Court and Appeals Court; $15,000 for Superior Court judges.
Georgia Supreme Court chief Hugh Thompson Wednesday urged lawmakers to support the pay raises, saying salaries have been stagnant for more than 15 years.
“We are beginning to fall behind and if we don’t do something about the pay scale we’re not going to attract or keep the very best we can get on the bench,” said Thompson.
Currently, judges on the Supreme Court and Appeals Court earn roughly $165,000 annually. That ranks in the top 20 nationally. For Superior Court judges, base pay is $120,000 but many judges get local supplements. In Cobb County, judges receive an extra $65,000.
The governor is required to support whatever the judiciary recommends. State lawmakers, however, can make adjustments as they see fit.
Some of have expressed concern about awarding hefty pay raises to judges while lower-paid state employees like teachers have gone without significant pay increases for years. Gov. Nathan Deal’s budget plan for next fiscal year includes money for a one percent pay bump for all state employees.
Next year’s budget is expected to be finalized by March or April.
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