Commission To Make Pay Recommendations For NY Judges
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – A new seven-member commission is about to set in stone pay recommendations for New York State judges, WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reports.
The new Judicial Compensation Commission will make force of law pay recommendations since judges in New York State have not had a raise in 12 years.
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LISTEN: WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reports
Chief Judge Jonathan Lipman said the raises will go into effect unless the governor and the legislature both say no.
"They go into effect automatically abrogated by the legislature. Unless they knock it out, and the governor signs a bill saying 'No, we're not going to do that. It's automatic," Lipman said.
Gov. David Paterson said the problem needs immediate attention.
"Right now, Supreme Court judges who are at the high end of the pay scale in the judiciary. They are often making $25,000 less than first-year attorneys that practice in front of them," Paterson said.
Lipman, meanwhile, thinks the pay recommendations would be the best step for society.
"The courts today are the emergency room for society's ills and problems and disputes. When you go into the emergency room, you want the best doctor. When you go into the court, you want the best judge."
