Judges’ salary increases advance

Nebraska judges would receive a salary increase under a bill advanced from general file April 10.

LB232, introduced by Omaha Sen. Steve Lathrop, would increase Nebraska Supreme Court judges’ salaries for fiscal year 2013-14 and FY2014-15. The current salary is $145,600.

District, county, juvenile, appellate and workers’ compensation court judges’ salaries statutorily are based on a percentage of the Supreme Court judges’ salaries, Lathrop said, so those judges also would receive a salary increase.

“[Judges] serve the state,” he said, “and in order for us to get the best and brightest, it is important that their salaries remain competitive.”

A Judiciary Committee amendment, adopted 31-0, would set the salary increase at 5 percent each fiscal year, totaling $152,900 in FY2013-14 and $160,500 in FY2014-15.

Hastings Sen. Les Seiler spoke in support of the bill, saying the average acquired loan amount for law school students is $150,000.

“If we are going to continue to keep our eye on the ball for future judges and get a good lawyer to give up his practice and move to the bench,” he said, “ it is going to cost money.”

Hoskins Sen. Dave Bloomfield opposed the bill, saying the state cannot afford to fund the salary increases.

Omaha Sen. Heath Mello, chairperson of the Appropriations Committee, disagreed, saying the courts had not filled vacancies the past two years in order to save money and apply it to judges’ salary increases.

“When an agency saves money over a two-year period and they want to utilize such funds going forward,” he said, “the funds can be appropriated back to them.”

The bill was advanced from general file on a 26-2 vote.