Judges To Get Pay Increase

The state Senate has approved a bill that would give Michigan judges their first pay increase in 15 years.

Currently, the salaries for judges of the state’s Court of Appeals, circuit court, probate court and district court are based on a percentage of the salary paid to a justice of the state Supreme Court.

But, under the legislation passed by the Senate Thursday, a judge’s pay would also be linked to pay increases for non-unionized state employees.

Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Young, last month, asked state lawmakers to change the way salary increases are decided for judges in Michigan. He says if something isn’t done to change the system it will become more difficult to find and retain good judges.

The bill was sent to the House Appropriations Committee.