CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A significant pay raise bill for the state’s judicial branch of government cleared the state Senate Monday and will next be taken up by the House of Delegates.
Senators approved SB 597 on a 29-3 vote. It provides 18 percent raises over two years for state Supreme Court justices, circuit judges and county magistrates. The increase is 21 percent over two years for Family Court judges.
“Many of our judges believe it or not in this state are paid below judges in Guam, American Samoa and Puerto Rico,” Senator Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, said. “Not only are we 50th for many of our judges in terms of their salary level but we’re 55th with or Family Court judges.”
State Judicial Association President Phil Stowers, a circuit judge in Putnam County, told lawmakers last week the increases will help attract successful lawyers to the bench.
“As we get closer to those numbers, I do believe over time we will recruit judges for open positions that have larger experience bases and have had successful practices,” he said.
Woelfel agreed Monday.
“When you go to court you expect to have a high level person judging your case and let’s face it the compensation package that’s available is relevant when it comes to attracting top talent to those positions,” Woelfel said.
The raises would be a significant increase in spending in what’s expected to be a tight state budget that would begin July 1. The fiscal note for the two years is a $5.6 million increase in spending.
The state Judicial Compensation Commission, created by the legislature three years ago, completed its most recent report last August.
Commission chairman, WVU College of Law Dean Greg Bowman, told MetroNews the report is a market analysis of what fair compensation and competitive compensation for judges should be in West Virginia taking into account all of the factors listed in the statute.
“Our salaries for judges in this state rank 53rd out of 55 states and territories. If you factor in the cost-of-living we are still in the high 40’s,” Bowman said.
If approved, the raises would be the first for the judicial branch since 2011.
Here is a breakdown of the current pay and the pay after the raise.
Supreme Court: $136,000 (current) — $148,450 (7/1/2020) — $160,901 (7/1/2021)
Circuit Court: $126,000 (current) — $137,535 (7/1/2020) — $149,070 (7/1/2021)
Family Court: $94,500 (current) — $104,215 (7/1/2020) — $113,930 (7/1/2021)
Magistrate Court: $57,500 (current) — $62,769 (7/1/2020) — $68,038 (7/1/2021)