State panel urges lawmakers to give justices raises

By David Eggert
Associated Press

LANSING (AP) — A panel is recommending that lawmakers give 3 percent raises to Michigan Supreme Court justices in 2017 and 2018.

The State Officers Compensation Commission issued the recommendation Wednesday. It also approved a motion expressing support for Senate-passed legislation to no longer link lower court judges’ pay to justices’ salaries.

The commission isn’t recommending pay hikes for the governor, legislators, attorney general and secretary of state.

Supreme Court justices make $164,610 and haven’t gotten a raise in nearly 15 years. Appeal and trial judges’ pay is based on a percentage of justices’ salaries. They earn between around $138,000 and $151,000.

Chief Justice Robert Young said Tuesday the panel’s recommendation would be “symbolic” because it’s too “toxic” for lawmakers to authorize higher pay.

“Anything the SOCC will do will be symbolic,” he said in a phone interview. “Subsequent to (a 2002) constitutional change, it’s made it politically impossible for the Legislature to respond. It’s just too politically toxic.”

Young says it's more realistic to push legislation automatically tying future pay hikes for judges — except Supreme Court justices — to cost-of-living increases given to executive branch employees.

“You want to have a bench where there’s a prospect of having the best and brightest lawyers in the state. We’re getting to a point now where that is no longer a possibility,” he said,

In 2011, the compensation panel proposed that justices get 3 percent raises in 2013 and 2014. The Supreme Court and groups representing more than 500 trial-level judges asked the Legislature to reject the recommendation, citing the state’s economic troubles.

In 2013, the committee recommended a 3 percent increase for 2015, but lawmakers did not act on it.

Young said the judiciary is doing its part to save money — phasing out judgeships, equipping courts with video conferencing, measuring performance and leading special substance abuse, mental health and veterans courts to reduce recidivism.