HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                      3729

No. 16

(House Joint Resolution No. 20)

A House Joint Resolution concerning

The Judicial Compensation Commission's Recommendations for
the Compensation of Maryland Judges During Fiscal Year 1986

FOR the purpose of establishing the salaries to be paid the
judges of the State of Maryland during fiscal year 1986 as
directed by Section 1-708 of the Courts and Judicial
Proceedings Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

WHEREAS, Section l-708(b)(2) of the Courts and Judicial
Proceedings Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland establishes
a 7 member Judicial Compensation Commission appointed by the
Governor with 2 members appointed on nomination of the President
of the Senate, 2 members appointed on nomination of the Speaker
of the House of Delegates, 1 member appointed on nomination of
the Maryland Bar Association, and 2 members appointed from
at-large. The Judicial Compensation Commission is constituted
currently as follows: appointments on nomination of the President
of the Senate: Matilda Jones Bayless and Bernard N. Linkoff;
appointments on nomination of the Speaker of the House of
Delegates: Sanford M. Baklor and Bruce A. Kaufman; appointment on
nomination of the Maryland. Bar Association: James P. Bailey;
appointments from at-large: Otis Ducker and Elizabeth S.
Morrison. The Commission members elected Bruce A. Kaufman,
Chairman; and

WHEREAS, Section l-708(d) of the Courts and Judicial
Proceedings Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland provides as
follows: the General Assembly may amend this Joint Resolution to
decrease any of the Commission's salary recommendations, but no
reduction may diminish the salary of a judge during his
continuance in office. The General Assembly may not amend this
Joint Resolution to increase these recommended salaries. Should
the General Assembly not adopt or amend this Joint Resolution
within 50 days of its introduction the salaries recommended
herein shall apply during fiscal year 1986. Should the General
Assembly reject any or all of the salaries herein recommended,
the salaries of the judges so affected shall remain unchanged
during fiscal year 1986, unless modified under other provisions
of the law; and

WHEREAS, The Judicial Compensation Commission held 21
meetings between December of 1980 and January of 1985. It met
with numerous persons, including legislators, executive
officials, bar associations, and judges. The Commission
considered many aspects and facets of judicial compensation.
The Commission by a vote of 5 or more of its members has
recommended judicial salaries for fiscal year 1986; now,
therefore, be it