Judiciary asks for $20,000 more
per judge in FY2006 budget
by Sabrina Salas Matanane, KUAM
News
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
The Judiciary of Guam was at the bargaining table today, justifying each
item on its budget request for Fiscal Year 2006. One item that caught
the eye of lawmakers was a request for raises.
Said Senator Bob Klitzkie (R), "If the judicial salary increase
that you're asking for is approved how much would it be for each judge?
It would be $20,000 for each trial judge, excluding the presiding judge,
just the six. You take each trial judge from $100,000 to $120,000 - that's
a pretty hefty salary increase."
Supreme Court justice Bob Torres explained that trial judges hadn't seen
an increase in more than a decade, and that their salaries are actually
below the national average. "You have to understand that they haven't
had an increase or have been subject to any increments in probably twelve-plus
years," he announced. "There are even some attorneys in the
Government of Guam employed who make more than judges. Judges are clearly
making less than some of the attorneys in the private practice, and if
we're going to continue to want to recruit good trial court judges and
who are willing to do the work, then we're going to have to look at wanting
to give them a salary that they deserve."
The Judiciary also discussed the status of the Judicial Building Fund,
and plans to use some of the money to upgrade its case management system.
Justice Torres said that a committee has already been formed to evaluate
how to implement a new system, which includes digital access to all court
documents to the public.
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