Commission says Maryland judges are underpaid
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September 10, 2011
Maryland: The Maryland Judicial Compensation Commission, at the urging of several judges and the Maryland Bar Association, decided that it's time for a raise for the state's judges. The commission is responsible for making recommendations to the legislature regrading judicial pay. They had suggested a pay raise in 2009, but the legislature did not act upon the suggestion. On September 7, 2011, the commission heard from multiple judges, who explained the need for pay raises.
One reason for the pay raises, stated Judge Marcella A. Holland, is the gravity of the job. "We are the ones who make the life changing decisions that can send someone to jail for the rest of their lives."[1] Judge Ben C. Clyburn emphasized that point, saying, "The stagnation of our salaries devalues what we do."[1] He also pointed out that young lawyers in some of the bigger law firms can make more than a judge.
Maryland ranks 43rd in the nation for judicial pay adjusted for cost of living. Disregarding the adjustments, the state's Court of Appeals judges are the 17th best paid high court judges in the nation at a salary of $162,352. When adjusted for cost of living, this number drops to $129,944.[1]
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