BUSINESS + ECONOMY

Salary increases for judges being considered by state leaders

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah State Legislature is exploring the possibility of giving judges a bump in salary.

The Executive Appropriations Committee is also considering a pay raise for other state leaders including: the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state auditor and state treasurer. They would all get a 5% percent raise.

However, the judges would receive a 10% raise. That includes judges on the Utah Supreme Court, who make more than $200,000 a year. District and appellate make a little less than that. 

The Deseret News reports the reason behind giving judges more of a raise is to generate more candidates for judgeships. The number of candidates for judgeships have sharply declined over the last decade. 

The funding for the raises for would come from the state’s general fund.

Mark Jones contributed to this article.

Read more:

• Judge denies retrial for Jerrod Baum, convicted of killing Utah teens
• Judge Diana Hagen nominated for Utah Supreme Court