CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Supreme Court Chief Justice Beth Walker and Justice Tim Armstead personally do not want pay raises, but instead want the West Virginia Legislature to consider a recent report regarding raises for members of the judiciary.
The justices’ comments last week on MetroNews “Talkline” were made in the wake of a report from the state Judicial Compensation Commission.
“I do hope the Legislature takes a good look at the report and all of the considerations, the comparisons and the important work that judges need to do and make the right decision,” Walker said. “I trust them to do that.”
The commission recommended a 20.6% raise for family court judges and a pay increase of around 18% for other judges in its report released last week. While the commission can recommend certain actions, lawmakers will decide what raises — if any — will happen.
Armstead served as the House of Delegates speaker when the commission process began in 2016; he said the commission did its job, in which members looked at what private practice attorneys make as well as the workload of current judges. He added the Legislature also controls the Supreme Court’s budget.
“I think they will need to look at balancing that among all the other needs of the state and all the other state employees and state offices, and make that decision,” he said.
Walker spoke highly of the judges throughout the state, saying the commission did a great job in its report of recognizing various factors impacting their work.
State lawmakers did not approve suggested raises following a December 2017 report; the commission recommended a 7% pay increase for family court judges and a 5% pay raise for other judges.