The judicial-pay saga continues.
As some of you will recall, the Office of Court Administration recently annouced that salaries for non-judicial personnel would be capped at $115,000 (in deference to judges who have not received a pay increase in about a decade).
Our friend, Alan Flacks, forwarded a copy of the following letter which is reported to have been sent on April 25, 2008, by the Association of Justices of the Supreme Court, to Ann Pfau , the Chief Administrative Judge.
ASSOCIATION OF JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
April 25, 2008
Honorable Ann T. Pfau
Deputy Chief Administrative Judge
Office of Court Administration
25 Beaver Street
New York, NY 10004
Dear Judge Pfau,
I have been requested by Officers of our Association to submit to you a resolution concerning raises for court employees earning more than $115,000.00 per year. The resolution was approved by an overwhelming majority of the Officers of our Association.
We thank you, Judge Kaye and the Office of Court Administration for your understanding position on our behalf. However, the concern here is that employees affected by this deferment should not be treated any less than their colleagues simply because the Judiciary does not receive an appropriate remuneration approved by the Legislature.
Respectfully,
Joseph G. Golia, President
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The Association of Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New York has resolved that:
"All raises approved for non-judicial union and non-union court employees who earn more than $115,000.00 per year should not be deferred."
While we appreciate the concern extended to the Judiciary it, nonetheless, is inappropriate to defer the raises to those who have earned and been approved for a salary increase. To hold that those presently earning a salary that either exceeds or closely parallels that of a Judge or Justice of the Unified Court System should not receive their increase, unlike their colleagues who earn less, until the New York State Legislature approves and grants an increase in remuneration to the Judiciary would be unfair.
Dated: April 25, 2008
JGG/sh
