Judicial Reports: Judicial Pay - Part II

By John Ennis
Posted 04-13-07

Earlier this year, LexMetrics took its first look at the issue of judicial pay (click here), which focused on the federal bench. Given the current controversy in the state legislature (click here for our lead story on the issue), we thought an analysis of New York State judges was due.

According to The National Center for State Courts, as of July 1, 2006, the average New York State general jurisdiction trial judge earned $136,700 — placing them 11th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. When adjusted for the cost of living, New York falls to 37th [Note: Judicial Pay, Part I used January 1, 2006 figures].

New York’s judges have not received a raise since 1999. From that year until 2005, the average (mean) salary for a full-time worker in the United States increased 22 percent. Adjusted for inflation the increase was 4.2 percent.

We’d expect most employees to get regular raises, but maybe judges (as state employees) are different? Police officers and fire fighters sometimes go years without a new contract or pay increase during particularly acrimonious labor disputes. LexMetrics checked to see if other states also give infrequent pay increases to the judiciary.

The only other state’s judges to go longer without an increase is Missouri’s. Between October, 2000 and December, 2005, the average state gave its judges three raises. For the one year period Jan. 1, 2005-to- Jan. 1, 2006, 38 of the 51 states gave their judges an increase. New York’s reluctance to give regular raises is not the norm nationwide.

Here are some other figures (provided by the Public Policy Institute of New York State — all numbers 2004, unless stated otherwise):

New York is first in the nation in state and local taxes per capita.

New York is second in the nation in state and local spending per capita.

New York is second in the nation in the average salary it pays to its full-time employees (2003 figure).

That’s the judges’ best argument for a raise. New York’s compensation to employees is second in the nation, but their judge’s earnings rank 11th.

A potential legislative rebuttal? New York is third in the nation in state and local debt per capita.

Posted by Ennis on April 13, 2007 07:09 AM to Judicial Reports