Commission chairman John T. Nielsen told members of the Legislature's Joint Executive Appropriations Committee on Wednesday that the judiciary needs to offer more money to attract the best lawyers to the bench.

No member of the committee had any comment about any of the recommendations during the meeting. But Senate President Al Mansell, R-Sandy, said later that he's "seen the highest quality judges we've had. . . . I'm not sure how much of a detriment" the pay is.

The governor-elect was most interested in seeing the salaries of executive branch appointees go up. The commission said the employees should see increases of 4.5 percent, bringing their pay to between $68,100 and $118,000.

Huntsman said he may have to look at supplementing some of the salaries of his top appointees to get them to work for state government.

"With some of the people we bring into government, we're going to have to address it," he said. "I don't know the answer yet."

He is already picking up the price tag for his transition staff, using leftover campaign funds. The newest addition to the team, members of a Transition Advisory Committee announced Wednesday, is made up of volunteers.

The transition committee includes dozens of prominent Utahns. Some of them, Huntsman said, may be tapped to serve in his administration. The committee is divided into 18 groups that will review the work done by various state agencies and recommend who should lead them.

The committee's findings are due by mid-December, although the executive director of the transition effort, Greg Hopkins, said Huntsman may contact his picks for the top spots in his administration much sooner.

Among the committee leaders are former Utah Sen. Jake Garn, Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller and Pamela Atkinson, known for her work with the homeless. The membership ranges from businessman Fred Lampropoulos, one of Huntsman's rivals for the GOP nomination for governor, to radio personality Tom Barberi.

Barberi, a longtime critic of Utah's liquor laws, was named to the group reviewing the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission. Huntsman said Barberi is an example of his intent to consult "people from all walks of life . . . who I trust and respect, regardless of their background."

Missing from the list was Huntsman's Democratic opponent, Scott Matheson Jr.

"Scott knows where he fits in," Huntsman said, noting he'd talked to him twice before Wednesday's announcement. "I told him . . . I want your input. I even want your voice. He'll be there."

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