Judicial Reports: Kaye To Announce Pay Suit

By Jason Boog
jasonboog@judicialstudies.com
Posted 04-10-08

Following 10 years without a raise, Chief Judge Judith Kaye is poised to sue on behalf of hundreds of frustrated judges this afternoon. While the press release didn't specify who would be named in the suit, the formal announcement is set for 1 pm today.

Kaye has contracted a legal heavy-hitter for this tough suit— former Clinton White House counsel and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz partner, Bernard W. Nussbaum.

The announcement follows yesterday’s news that the state Legislature passed a $121.7 billion budget without giving judges the funds for a pay raise. Such groundbreaking litigation could possibly force State judges into the potentially conflicted position of deciding their own salary increases.

During similar pay raise deadlocks in the past, Pennsylvania and Illinois judges mounted lawsuits about cost-of-living adjustments. In both cases, judges ended up with pay raises despite tension between leaders and the public.

Posted by Jason on April 10, 2008 10:37 AM to Judicial Reports