Commission Seeks Raises for Judges

The state Judicial Compensation Commission has recommended a multiyear pay raise plan for Louisiana's judges.

The plan would this year increase Supreme Court justices' pay by 5.5 percent, appeals court judges by 3.7 percent and general trial court judges by 4 percent.

The Advocate reports the raise would cost an estimated $1.7 million.

The plan approved Monday now advances to the Louisiana Legislature for consideration.

The commission acted after hearing a report from economist Loren C. Scott, who concluded that Louisiana judges' pay was lagging behind that of their colleagues in the South.