Courts merit
raise, report says
The pay hikes would cost
$1.3 million the first year and
go into effect in July 2005
State judges would get an average 14 percent pay raise next year and then receive annual 3.5 percent increases for the following six years, under recommendations of the state Judicial Salary Commission.
The pay raises -- which would require about $1.3 million for the first year -- would go into effect in July 2005 unless the Legislature rejects them. Some lawmakers questioned the amount of the pay raises. Judges received their last salary increase of 11 percent in 2000.
"Although it's not a complete catch-up because of the cost-of-living aspects over the years, I think that the report is a very fair one and the recommendation is very equitable," said Chief Justice Ronald Moon.
The commission recommended raising:
>> The chief justice's salary to $140,000 from $116,779, a 19.9 percent increase; associate justices' pay to $135,000 from $115,547, a 16.8 percent hike.The commission found that the salary for Hawaii trial court judges ranked last out of 47 states and the District of Columbia when adjusted for cost of living.>> Chief appellate judge's pay to $130,000 from $112,466, a 15.6 percent raise; associate appellate judges' salaries to $125,000 from $110,618, a 13 percent increase.
>> Circuit Court judges' pay to $121,600 from $106,922, a 13.7 percent hike.
>> District Court judges' salaries to $114,600 from $100,761, just less than a 13.7 percent raise.
>> The administrative director's salary to $105,000 from $90,041, a 16.6 percent raise; the deputy administrative director's pay to $100,000 from $85,302, a 17.2 percent increase.
But some state lawmakers consider the proposed pay increases high.
"We acknowledge that judges work extremely hard, but the state's current fiscal situation may not allow for a substantial increase," said Rep. Scott Saiki (D, Moiliili-Kaimuki), House majority leader.
Saiki said the recommendation also does not take into account the state's generous retirement package for judges.
House Minority Leader Galen Fox (R, Waikiki-Ala Moana) said the recommended pay hikes are much higher than the increases recommended last month for the governor (up 18.2 percent to $112,000 from $94,780) and lieutenant governor (up 11.1 percent to $100,000 from $90,041) and Cabinet members.
"I don't like the fact that the judicial salaries are going up faster," Fox said.
Commission Chairman Paul Oshiro said the average 14 percent increase represents what judges would have received if their salaries kept pace with the rise in the Consumer Price Index.
The 3.5 percent annual increase is equal to the average salary increases for circuit court judges across the country from 1996 to 2003.
Oshiro said commissioners chose to start the higher salaries in July 2005 at the start of the state's next two-year budget cycle so they would not hit now when the finances are tight.