JUDICIAL COMPENSATION COMMISSION


[photo, Murphy Courts of Appeal Building, Annapolis, Maryland] Appointed by Governor to 6-year terms:
Edward J. Gilliss, Esq., Chair (chosen by Commission, 4-year term)

John M. Suit II, 2024; Meghan K. Casey, Esq., 2025; Victoria K. Fretwell, 2026; John M. Wasilisin, 2027; Carlos D. Williams, M.D., 2027; Sophia T. Barilone, Esq., 2028.


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


Staff: Jennifer K. Botts

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

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):

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

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

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):

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

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

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

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).

Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
Maryland Departments
Maryland Independent Agencies
Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, & Advisory Boards
Maryland Universities & Colleges
Maryland Counties
Maryland Municipalities
Maryland at a Glance


Maryland Manual On-Line

Search the Manual
e-mail: mdmanual@maryland.gov


This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user.


Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!


[ Archives' Home Page  ||  Maryland Manual On-Line  ||  Reference & Research
||  Search the Archives   ||  Education & Outreach  ||  Archives of Maryland Online ]

Governor     General Assembly    Judiciary     Maryland.Gov

© Copyright October 20, 2023 Maryland State Archives