A panel is recommending a 12 percent increase for members of the Oklahoma judiciary — a recommendation that could lead to similar raises for all statewide elected officials.
The Board of Judicial Compensation meets every two years to review judicial pay and make recommendations. Gov. Mary Fallin and the Legislature rejected the board's proposal two years ago, and in 2009, the board didn't recommend any raises.
Board chairman Tony Sallars tells the Tulsa World that the state needs to retain and attract high-quality judges. He noted that the University of Oklahoma's general counsel, for example, makes more money than the Oklahoma Supreme Court's chief justice.
However, statewide elected officials' pay is also pegged to judicial salaries — so an increase in judges' pay would trigger similar raises for others.
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