Editorial: No tears for judges over pay

Wednesday, March 21, 2001 | 9:16 a.m.

Nevada Supreme Court Justice Bob Rose isn't happy that some of his fellow justices receive a bigger paycheck. Currently justices on the Supreme Court can make up to $107,000 a year, but Chief Justice Bill Maupin makes $22,000 more annually than Rose, which Rose deemed a "gross inequity." In fact, some justices of the peace make more than he does, Rose last week told a legislative panel that is considering legislation to raise judicial salaries. Despite Rose's displeasure, the Nevada Constitution -- for good reason -- bars pay increases before a term expires.

Certainly if this were the private sector, Rose would have an excellent argument to make, which is that two people doing the same job should be paid equally. But since Rose is an elected official, this is a much different matter. It has been a long-standing principle in government that elected officials shouldn't receive a pay increase until they face the voters again. There is no reason why judges or justices on the Supreme Court should be treated any differently than the governor, the Legislature or locally elected officials.

What's intriguing about Rose's complaint is that not only did he know when he was elected what the pay would be, but that he also understood that the Nevada Constitution prohibited pay increases during his term. It also should be mentioned that judges can supplement their base salaries with longevity pay: As the Sun's Cy Ryan noted in a story last week, judges also earn a 2 percent per year increase in salary after four years in office, an amount that is capped at 22 percent. And while up to six years might seem like a long time to wait, judges and justices have indicated they like the lengthier terms, insulating them from the political dervish that other elected officials must frequently face.

It also seems picayune for Rose to raise this beef in light of how much an independent commission is recommending that pay be raised. Salaries for Supreme Court justices would go from $107,000 to $150,000 while those in District Court would be hiked from $100,000 to $130,000. It would seem quite a small price to pay, waiting a few years to see a salary increased so handsomely.