New York's state court judges have gone just a little longer than Michigan's state court judges without a pay increase (12 years compared to 9-plus). But unlike Michigan judges, help is on the way. A new commission on judicial pay voted today to raise judicial compensation by 27%. The recommendation will take effect next spring unless vetoed by legislation passed by both houses of the legislature and signed by the governor. In a story in the New York Times, the chair of the commission said he hoped that the modest nature of increase -- much less than many advocated for -- would persuade the legislature and governor to let the recommendation stand. Overturning the increases, he said, would be “disastrous.”
Michigan's State Officer's Compensation Commission also recommended an increase for state judges, but at an even more modest level --3% in 2013 and another 3% in 2014. Unlike New York, Michigan requires an affirmative vote of both houses of the legislature for the recommendation to take effect. That daunting prospect may explain in part why Michigan's judiciary thanked the commission but said, in effect, "thanks but no thanks; now is not the right time," with this statement:
The judges of Michigan appreciate that the State Officers Compensation Commission has recognized that a freeze on judicial compensation for over a decade is not good public policy. Our priority continues to be to make the justice system right-sized, smarter, more user-friendly and more accountable. We appreciate the recommendation for an increase in compensation. Given the continued budgetary situation of the state, however, we would understand if the legislature chose not to increase judicial salaries at this time. We are confident that as Michigan’s recovery progresses, the issue will be revisited.
