What's happening
This bill sets the salaries of county, family, and surrogate court judges equal to supreme court justices at $136,700.
Why it matters
Equalizes pay across key judicial positions. , which could address perceptions of unfairness and help retain or attract qualified judges to county, family, and surrogate courts, not just the supreme court.
May impact the quality and consistency of justice administered. in lower courts by reducing financial disparities that could otherwise deter experienced lawyers from seeking these judgeships.
Repeals separate salary provisions for these courts. , streamlining the law and potentially simplifying budget planning and judicial administration at the state and county levels.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Equal Pay for Judges
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
770
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BRESLIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the judiciary law, in relation to salaries of county court, family court and surrogate's court judges, and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 221-b of the judiciary law, as added by chapter 630 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:
§ 221-b. Salary of justices of the supreme court and judges of the county, family and surrogate courts. The annual salary of a justice of the supreme court and each judge of a county, family and surrogate's court shall be the same and shall be as follows: Justice and judge 136,700
§ 2. Sections 221-d, 221-e, and 221-f of the judiciary law are REPEALED.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05958-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the judiciary law, in relation to salaries of county court, family court and surrogate's court judges, and to repeal certain provisions of such law relating thereto
Purpose
This bill would eliminate the various pay scales and provide that all trial judges, at the county and supreme court level, receive the same salary.
Summary of provisions
Section 221-b states that the salary of justices of the supreme court and judges of the county, family, and surrogate courts shall be the same.
Justification
This legislation would eliminate the judicial pay disparities that exist in New York State. There is no other state that has such a fractured and irrational compensation plan. For example, New York is the only state that pays its felony trial judges less than its civil court judges and New York is one of only a few states that pays its family court judges less then its civil court judges. Currently, supreme court judges are paid the same in New York regardless of their location; yet this is not true for family, county and surrogate court judges. One argument often made against pay equity for judges is the cost of living differences between jurisdictions. However, all Senators and Assembly members are paid the same regardless of their district location. It is the intent of this bill to bring to light judicial any disparities and provide a mean- ingful solution.
Legislative history
2017/2018 -S.2958 Referred to Judiciary
2015/2016 -S.803 Reffered to Judiciary
2013/2014 -S.1165 Remained in the Committee on Judiciary
2011/2012 -S.1442 Remained in the Committee on Judiciary
2009/2010 -S.635/A.1689 Remained in the Committees on Judiciary
2007/2008 -S.801/A.1410 Remained in the Committees on Judiciary
2005/2006 -S.547/A.678 Remained in the Committees on Judiciary
Fiscal implications
It is estimated that this will cost approximately $3 million per year.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.