Judicial pay increase considered

Nebraska Supreme Court justices would receive a salary increase under a bill heard by the Judiciary Committee Jan. 20.

Lincon Sen. Colby Coash introduced LB862 with the intent of providing a salary increase to the Supreme Court justices commensurate with an increase received by state employees in 2012. He explained that the increase was important because the salaries of all judges are based on the salaries of the Supreme Court.

“This bill is important because it would also apply to all judges serving in Nebraska,” Coash said.

Warren Whitted, Nebraska State Bar Association president, testified in support of the bill. He said compensation for judges should be competitive to encourage a strong judiciary.

“We have experienced an inordinate number of retirements recently,” Whitted said. “When looking for highly qualified replacements, we need to be able to properly compensate them.”

No one testified in opposition to the bill and the committee took no immediate action.