Durham lobbies for higher judicial salaries

For the first time in more than a decade, the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court appeared before a legislative budget committee to lobby for higher pay for Utah's judges.

"We have fallen significantly behind," Chief Justice Christine Durham told members of the Joint Appropriations Subcommittee Executive Offices and Criminal Justice.

Utah's judicial salaries are not only much lower than averages of neighboring states but are below what many attorneys make in Utah in the private sector.

Second District Judge Jon Memmott, who chaired an ad-hoc committee that studies judicial salaries, said an average attorney in public service makes around $117,000 annually and judges in nearby states average $111,000. Compare this to Utah judges, who make $104,000 and it's clear that soon being a Utah judge will not seem so attractive to those highly qualified, Memmott said.

"The applicant pool seems to be getting thinner," said George Daines, president of the Utah State Bar. Daines supported court statistics that showed those applying to be judges are getting younger and less experienced.

A fiscal analysis done on the issue proposed that Utah judges receive a 7 percent increase, which will cost an additional $921,000 in extra funding. This would bring judicial salaries up to $111,280.

This increase is at the top of a list of other budgetary increases court officials have asked lawmakers to consider.

After three years of budget cuts, Utah's courts are in need of several clerks and at least two new judges, said state court administrator Dan Becker. Another top priority is $718,600 to fund a new court complex being built in West Jordan, which has already been bonded for.

About $370,000 is needed to hire five law clerks to cover shortages in the 6th and 7th Districts and $238,400 is needed to hire three more deputy clerks. Becker pointed out that considering the fact that several years in budget cuts resulted in the elimination of 65 deputy clerk positions, their request does not appear unreasonable.

Almost $350,000 was also asked for the Guardian ad Litem's Office, which represents children in domestic and criminal cases.

After some debate, lawmakers voted to fund the West Jordan court complex but cut funding for law clerks in half to $175,000. The request for deputy clerks was also approved.

The subcommittee also suggested funding for court interpreters and funds to cover a $300,000 budget deficit. Funding for create an electronic court filing system was not considered.

Subcommittee members have yet to vote on granting judges a pay increase. The recommendations will then be forwarded to the Joint Appropriations Committee for approval.

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