Independent Citizens Commission to vote on judge salaries

Members of the Independent Citizen Commission Chuck Banks, left, Barbara Graves, middle, and Stuart Hill discuss the salaries of district judges Thursday.
Members of the Independent Citizen Commission Chuck Banks, left, Barbara Graves, middle, and Stuart Hill discuss the salaries of district judges Thursday.

A seven-member commission tasked with deciding salaries for public officials discussed raising salaries of district judges on Thursday.

After deliberating, the Independent Citizens Commission decided to take more time to consider proposed figures and vote in a meeting tomorrow.

The commission signaled their approval for a raise. The average of the figures proposed by the commission is $139,902.

The commission has until Monday to make its recommendations to change the salaries of district judges.

Currently, the salary of a state district judge is $125,495. That's about 89.4 percent of the salary of a circuit court judge, according to a letter to the commission prepared by the board of the Arkansas District Judges Council.

Judge Mark Pate of the council said the salaries of district court judges have not increased at the same rate as the average state employee salary.

“We’re simply asking that you that you increase us by the same percentage, being 89.4 percent,” Pate said.

Vice chairman of the commission, Chuck Banks, started the discussion by emphasizing the importance of the role of district judges in the court system.

“Do you believe that one of the unique fixtures of a district court is it’s the most often chance for a citizen to come and see the court system — most people don’t end up in circuit, they sure don’t end up in federal — but how they appreciate the democracy of being treated in the court system is important,” Banks said. "Do you believe that?”

“I do,” Pate said. “I’ve always said, vice chair, we are somewhat ambassadors of the judicial system in the state of Arkansas.”

Because district courts have higher volume than any other courts, people will judge the fairness of the legal system based on their experience in district court, Pate said.

“Most people will form their opinion of the legal system from a traffic violation, from an automobile accident or a small claims case,” Pate said.

Banks also urged his fellow commissioners to consider the high level at which district judges function.

“The qualifications of these people is extremely high — the standards to become a judge are extremely high,” he said. “And I think that’s a factor.”

Members of the commission will consider the figures discussed Thursday and propose changes, if they have any, at Friday's meeting before they vote.

Read Friday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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