Amended state constitutional provisions regarding reductions to judicial salaries
State courts face difficult budgetary decisions as a result of economic conditions. The salaries of federal judges are protected by Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States; it states that the salaries of federal judges “shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.” NCSC identified the states that have constitutionally insulated their state’s judicial salaries from any reductions.
Judicial retirement plans
At the request of the Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) Committee on Judicial Selection and Compensation, NCSC recently launched an initiative to provide updated information on state judicial retirement plans. The information gathered focuses on the number and type of plan(s) in each state; who contributes, and how much; and benefits and how they are calculated. The website reflects information provided to NCSC by state court administrative offices.
How states set salaries
The National Center for State Courts conducted a survey of all fifty states to gather detailed information related to the processes used by states to set judicial compensation and judicial salary increases.