In Support of Efforts to Increase State and Territorial Judicial Compensation
Resolution 4: In Support of Efforts to Increase State and Territorial Judicial Compensation
WHEREAS, a fundamental principle of our democracy is that the public is entitled to justice rendered by a qualified, independent, fair and impartial judiciary; and
WHEREAS, inadequate judicial compensation threatens the ability of all state and territorial courts to attract and retain qualified, experienced lawyers drawn from every segment of the legal profession to a career in judicial service; and
WHEREAS, the Chief Judge and members of New York's bench continue to provide innovation and leadership to the nation's judiciary; and
WHEREAS, the National Center for State Courts in an independent study of New York's judicial compensation system concluded that:
- Their pay ranks 49th in the nation when adjusted for New York's high cost of living.
- Of the 50 states, New York's judges have gone the longest without any salary adjustment (now in the tenth year).
- New York's judicial pay has been significantly eroded by inflation (26%) since 1999;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Conference of Chief Justices supports:
- Adequate compensation for all members of the state and territorial judiciaries; and
- The efforts of the Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals to resolve the compensation crisis as it supports all other efforts to obtain adequate compensation for state and territorial judiciaries.
Adopted as proposed by the Conference of Chief Justices at the CCJ Midyear Meeting on January 30, 2008.