Michigan judges may get pay raises

June 8, 2011

Michigan: Michigan judges may be due for a pay raise. The State Officers Compensation Commission, a panel which meets every two years after the general election, is recommending 3% pay raises for the state's judges, beginning in 2013 and increasing by 3% every year thereafter. No pay raises were recommended for other state officers. The panel's proposal must be approved by the Legislature to take effect. If approved, it would raise the salaries of Michigan Supreme Court Justices from $164,610 to $169,548 in 2013 and $174,634 by 2014. The salaries of other state judges would be increased similarly. According to Commission member David Fink, the judges' current salaries have not been adjusted for inflation, although they received a small pay raise in 2001. The judges themselves seemed somewhat apathetic. The Supreme Court and the Michigan Judges Association issued a statement that explained, "Given the continued budgetary situation of the state, we would understand if the Legislature chose not to increase judicial salaries at this time."