Judiciary committee advances bill to raise district attorney pay, limits local supplements; 6–5 vote

Summary

The Judiciary Committee passed House Bill 1028 by a 6–5 vote, moving a plan to tie most district attorneys’ base pay to a share of federal judge pay while capping local supplements; members and witnesses debated impacts on recruitment, parity with chief public defenders (O.C.G.A. §17‑12‑25) and unequal effects across large and small circuits.

The state House Judiciary Committee voted to advance House Bill 1028 on Thursday, approving a substitute that would tie most district attorneys’ state salary to 88% of a federal district judge’s pay while limiting future local supplements. The committee approved the bill, sending it back to Rules by a 6–5 margin after extended debate and public testimony.

Vice Chair Brock Reeves, the bill’s author in committee, told members the substitute (LC 4066S) is modeled on last year’s judicial pay change and would raise the state component for many DAs from a current base of about $132,004.73 toward an estimated cap near $196,005.92 (88% of the referenced federal level), subject to appropriations. Reeves said the substitute preserves pay parity for chief public defenders under state law (Title 17, §17‑12‑25) while clarifying that counties…

Judiciary committee advances bill to raise district attorney pay, limits local supplements; 6–5 vote

Summary

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