Peach Tree Times

State Representative Rob Leverett of Elberton has announced his intention to introduce two bills in the 2025 legislative session aimed at reforming Georgia's judicial pay structure. As chairman of the House Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee, Leverett seeks to address disparities in compensation for Superior Court judges and statewide judges.

“It is necessary that we ensure judicial compensation in Georgia is both fair and aligned with the scope of responsibility each court carries,” said Rep. Leverett. He emphasized the importance of creating a transparent and equitable system for the state's judiciary, aiming to make salaries more consistent across circuits and align pay with responsibilities.

The proposed legislation would not set specific salaries but would remove current salary amounts from the Code. Instead, it would establish a statutory maximum salary cap tied to federal district court judges' salaries in Atlanta. This cap would vary by court, with the Supreme Court having the highest limit. The bills also propose limiting local supplements provided by counties to superior court judges, with plans to phase these out as state-paid portions increase.

Judge Ann B. Harris, President of the Council of Superior Court Judges, expressed support for this initiative. “The inadequacies in the current compensation structure, and the resulting burden that has fallen on the counties to try to address these problems, have been years in the making," she stated. "We are grateful to our legislators for a bill that addresses the issues in a comprehensive, fair manner.”

The full text of each bill will be available after filing with the Clerk of the House when the legislative session begins on January 13, 2025.