Judicial pay has not kept up with inflation and Georgia jurists are feeling the pinch—in fact, according to Presiding Justice Nels Peterson, “The amount the Supreme Court was paid in real dollars 20 years ago was about $100,000 more than it is today. Similar deltas exist in the Court of Appeals and Superior Courts.”

However, a much-discussed reform for parity in judge pay proposed by the Judicial Council of Georgia is one step closer to getting to the Senate after a successful second reading greeted by unanimous approval in the state House Judiciary Committee Thursday. Several luminaries of the state judiciary involved in the creation of the bill showed up in support, including Justice Charles Bethel, Chief Judge Amanda Mercier of the Georgia Court of Appeals, and superior court judges John Morse Jr. and Bert Guy.

A headshot of Rob Leverett. Georgia State Representative Robert Freeman Leverett , R-Elberton. Courtesy photo