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Judiciary asks Appropriations Committee to adopt modest phased pay increases recommended by compensation commission
Summary
Judicial leaders and the Judicial Compensation Commission urged support for House Joint Resolution 6 to implement modest salary increases for judges over four years, citing Maryland’s high cost of living and comparative salary rankings that place many state judges in the bottom half nationally after adjusting for cost of living.
Representatives of the Maryland judiciary told the House Appropriations Committee that adopting the Judicial Compensation Commission’s recommendations is necessary to recruit and retain qualified judges. The commission chair summarized its statutory mandate and recommended increases that would raise each judge’s salary roughly $23,600 over four years; the commission emphasized a more modest increase than four years ago given the state’s fiscal outlook.
Speakers outlined data comparing Maryland judicial compensation to other states and to federal and private‑sector equivalents. "When factoring in cost of living, we stand at the bottom quartile of states," one presenter told members, citing National Center for State Courts data adjusted to 07/01/2025. Chief judge John Morrissey explained that vacancies are frequent (89 since 2022), that private‑sector opportunities often pay substantially more, and that modest raises help broaden the pool of qualified applicants.
The commission and judicial leaders argued the proposals are measured in light of state budget constraints and are appropriate to preserve judicial independence and court functioning. Committee members thanked witnesses and indicated they would consider the commission’s proposal alongside other budget priorities.
No formal vote was taken at the hearing; the committee acknowledged receipt of the commission’s report and testimony.
