Judges ask committee to consider pay increases to aid recruitment, retention
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Summary
Representatives of the Massachusetts Judges' Conference told the joint committee that judicial pay lags national peers and that low compensation harms recruitment and retention of qualified candidates. They urged lawmakers to consider raises for judges and clerks when budgeting allows.
Daniel Dilaratti, president of the Massachusetts Judges' Conference, and other judges told the Joint Committee on the Judiciary that judges and court clerks deserve compensation that reflects their workload and the cost of living.
Dilaratti said Massachusetts ranks near the bottom nationally when judicial pay is adjusted for cost of living and that the disparity makes it difficult to recruit and retain qualified candidates. "Like all members of state government, the judicial branch seeks fair, just, and equitable compensation for the work we do," he said. Witnesses described heavy daily caseloads — sometimes dozens of matters in a single day — and the need to attract candidates who reflect the diversity of the communities served.
Panelists described mentorship programs and other recruitment steps already underway but said compensation is a necessary component to sustain a high-quality judiciary. Committee members thanked the panel and noted the wider fiscal context and competing budget priorities; the committee did not take a vote during the hearing.