Judges Get First Raise in 3 Years

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (CN) - Missouri state judges will get a pay raise for the first time since 2008. Supreme Court judges will get a pay boost of $10,557; appellate judges $6,478; circuit judges $6,536; and associate circuit judges $7,492.

The raises, approved by state lawmakers, take effect in July 2012.

The raises were a point of contention for legislators. Supporters claimed the raises are needed to keep good people on the bench and to stop an exodus to higher-paying jobs.

Opponents said the state could not afford the $5 million price tag.

Pay ranges for Missouri judges range from $137,034 for State Supreme Court judges to $109,366 for associate circuit judges.

That ranks in the middle nationally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Missouri judges last got a raise in July 2008, of 3 percent.

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