JUDICIAL COMPENSATION COMMISSION

Alice G. Pinderhughes, Esq.; John M. Suit II, 2024; Meghan K. Casey, Esq., 2025; Victoria K. Fretwell, 2026; John M. Wasilisin, 2027; Carlos D. Williams, M.D., 2027.

Murphy Courts of Appeal Building, Annapolis, Maryland, November 2002. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

c/o Dept. of Legislative Services
Legislative Services Building, Room 214, 90 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 946-5530, (301) 970-5530
e-mail: jennifer.botts@mlis.state.md.us
fax: (410) 946-5555, (301) 970-5555

• Report, May 2022
• Report, January 2018
• Report, January 2014
• Report, January 2012
• Report Supplement, December 2009
• Report, January 5, 2009
• Report Supplement, January 2005
• Report, January 19, 2004

Formed by the General Assembly in 1980, the Judicial Compensation Commission considers judicial compensation to ensure that highly qualified persons are attracted to the bench and judges may serve without economic hardship (Chapter 717, Acts of 1980).

Every four years, since September 2009, the Commission reviews judicial salaries and pensions and submits its recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly prior to the start of the next regular legislative session of the General Assembly (Chapter 2, Acts of 2009; Code Courts & Judicial Proceedings Article, sec 1-708).

By the fifteenth day of the legislative session, the Commission's salary recommendations are introduced as a joint resolution in each house of the General Assembly. While the General Assembly may not increase recommended salaries, it may decrease them. If the Legislature fails to adopt or amend the joint resolution within fifty days after its introduction, the salaries recommended by the Commission do apply. Commission recommendations concerning pensions are introduced in the form of legislation by the Senate President and the House Speaker and become effective only if passed by both houses.

Because Commission recommendations were not accepted by the Legislature in 2010, the Commission met in 2011 and submitted its recommendations to the General Assembly during the 2012 legislative session.

In its 2012 session, the General Assembly authorized the following judicial salaries as of July 1, 2013 (Joint Resolution 5, Acts of 2012):

District Court of Maryland: $131,808 associate judges; $154,108 chief judge.
Circuit Court: $144,908 associate judges.
Court of Special Appeals: $154,108 judges; $157,108 chief judge.
Court of Appeals: $166,908 judges; $185,908 chief judge.

Further, on July 1, 2014, annual salaries increased to:

District Court of Maryland: $136,500 associate judges; $158,800 chief judge.
Circuit Court: $149,600 associate judges.
Court of Special Appeals: $158,800 judges; $161,800 chief judge.
Court of Appeals: $171,600 judges; $190,600 chief judge.

Finally, on July 1, 2015, judicial salaries increased to:

District Court of Maryland: $141,333 associate judges; $163,333 chief judge.
Circuit Court: $154,333 associate judges.
Court of Special Appeals: $163,333 judges; $166,633 chief judge.
Court of Appeals: $176,433 judges; $195,433 chief judge.

In January 2014, the Commission did not recommend any further judicial salary increases. The next time recommendations were made was in January 2018.

In its 2018 session, the General Assembly authorized the following judicial salaries as of July 1, 2018 (Joint Resolution 3, Acts of 2018):

District Court of Maryland: $146,333 associate judges; $168,633 chief judge.
Circuit Court: $159,433 associate judges.
Court of Special Appeals: $168,633 judges; $171,633 chief judge.
Court of Appeals: $181,433 judges; $200,433 chief judge.

Further, on July 1, 2019, annual salaries increased to:

District Court of Maryland: $151,333 associate judges; $173,633 chief judge.
Circuit Court: $164,433 associate judges.
Court of Special Appeals: $173,633 judges; $176,633 chief judge.
Court of Appeals: $186,433 judges; $205,433 chief judge.

In addition, on July 1, 2020, judicial salaries increased to:

District Court of Maryland: $156,333 associate judges; $178,633 chief judge.
Circuit Court: $169,433 associate judges.
Court of Special Appeals: $178,633 judges; $181,633 chief judge.
Court of Appeals: $191,433 judges; $210,433 chief judge.

Finally, on July 1, 2021, annual salaries increased to:

District Court of Maryland: $161,333 associate judges; $183,633 chief judge.
Circuit Court: $174,433 associate judges.
Court of Special Appeals: $183,633 judges; $186,633 chief judge.
Court of Appeals: $196,433 judges; $215,433 chief judge.

The Governor appoints the Commission's seven members to six-year terms. Of these, two are nominated by the Senate President, two by the House Speaker, and one by the Maryland State Bar Association. The Commission chooses the Chair. Members serve without compensation (Code Courts & Judicial Proceedings Article, sec. 1-708).

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