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Judicial Salaries
Victor A. Kovner, Modern
Courts' Board Chair (second from left) joins Chief Judge Jonathan
Lippman (left), Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Manhattan District
Attorney (and former Board member) Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., New York
State Bar President Stephen Younger and Assembly Judiciary Chair
Helene Weinstein as Governor David Paterson signs into law the Judicial
Compensation Bill on December 10, 2010.
Statement
of Victor A. Kovner, Chair of the Fund for Modern Courts,
on passage of the judicial compensation commission bill
“We congratulate Governor Paterson for placing the judicial
compensation commission bill on the special legislative session
agenda, and the members of the State Senate and Assembly for their
overwhelming approval of that legislation.
Modern Courts has long advocated the creation of a Quadrennial Commission
which will once and for all remove judicial compensation from the
political process.
This Commission provides a rational solution to the problem of how
to achieve equity, regularity, and objectivity in judicial compensation,
and will preserve our independent, highly-qualified and diverse
judiciary.”
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Earlier Statement:
February 2010 Statement
by Victor A. Kovner, on Court of Appeals decision in Chief Judge
v. Governor and legislative leadership reaction:
MODERN COURTS WELCOMES THE DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS IN CHIEF
JUDGE v. GOVERNOR
New York , NY . Modern
Courts applauds the Court's holding in Chief Judge v. Governor
that the failure to modify judicial compensation was unconstitutional
but regrets the disappointing reaction from the State Legislature.
Mr. Kovner said, “Today's
decision gives New Yorkers the expectation that judges in the State
of New York will at long last receive just compensation. As the
Court of Appeals stated, ‘When this Court articulates the constitutional
standards governing state action, we presume that the State will
act accordingly.' Now is the time for the Legislature to create
a Quadrennial Commission to ensure that judicial compensation is
determined on the merits, and no longer linked to legislative compensation.”
Mr. Kovner added, “We are,
however, particularly disappointed by the Assembly's announced intention
to defer consideration until ‘economic conditions improve.' This
statement effectively defies the decision of the Court of Appeals,
which concluded ‘We therefore expect appropriate and expeditious
legislative consideration . ' A Quadrennial Commission
is the perfect solution. It is an objective mechanism with appointees
from all three branches of government and offers the best prospect
for achieving equity, regularity, and objectivity in judicial compensation.
After eleven years of promises, further delay would be outrageous.”
Mr. Kovner congratulated
the diligent work of the distinguished counsel who commenced the
actions to preserve an independent judiciary. Mr. Kovner further
thanked Modern Courts' former Board member, Caitlin Halligan, and
former partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, and her colleagues,
Gregory Silbert and David Yolkut, at the firm for preparing an amicus
brief on behalf of Modern Courts.
The Fund for Modern Courts
continues its supports for increasing judicial compensation for
New York State judges. Modern Courts vigorously advocates for the
judiciary proposal to create an objective mechanism which would
separate judicial compensation from legislative compensation.
More on this topic
Law Day Speech on the Independence of the Judiciary and Judicial
Pay Raises in New York by Victor A. Kovner, Chair of Modern Courts
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AMICUS BRIEF
Kaye v. Silver
STATEMENT
Statement by Victor A. Kovner, Chair of the Committee for Modern Courts on Judicial Salaries
PRESS
Times Union, February 7, 2007
Court group hails planned judicial pay raises
TESTIMONY
2011
Testimony
presented to the Special Commission on Judical Compenation
Questions about Advocacy?
Send us an email at
advocacy@moderncourts.org
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