An Act To Increase Judicial Salaries
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1524
Committee: Judiciary
Amends: 4 MRSA §4, 4 MRSA §102, 4 MRSA §157

Legislative Document 
No. 1524 
S.P.547 
March 20, 2007 
An Act To Increase Judicial Salaries 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reported by President EDMONDS of Cumberland for the Judicial Compensation 
Commission pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 4, section 1701. 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed under Joint Rule 
218. 
Printed on recycled paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, current salaries for members of Maine's judiciary are among the lowest in 
both the New England states and the nation as a whole; and 
Whereas, The annual cost-of-living increases for judicial salaries required by 
current law have not been implemented on a regular basis, thereby causing current 
judicial salaries to lag behind intended salary levels recommended by the Judicial 
Compensation Commission in previous reports to the Legislature dating back to 1996; 
and 
0 
Whereas, it is the recommendation of the Judicial Compensation Commission that 
increases in judicial salaries become effective July 1,2007; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §4, sub-§l, as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
1. Chief justice; salary. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court is entitled 
to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998992007-08 and thereafter, of$111,000 $153,588, 
to be paid biweekly. 
Sec. 2. 4 MRSA §4, sub-§2, ~A, as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. 
M, §2, is amended to read: 
A. For fiscal year 1998 99 2007-08 and thereafter, $96,000 $l33,555, to be paid 
biweekly. 
Sec. 3. 4 MRS A §102, sub-§l, as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §4, is 
further amended to read: 
1. Chief justice; salary. The Chief Justice of the Superior Court is entitled to 
receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998 992007-08 and thereafter, of $94,000 $130,884, to 
be paid biweekly. 
Sec. 4. 4 MRSA §102, sub-§2, ~A, as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 643, 
Pt. M, §5, is amended to read: 
A. For fiscal year 1998 99 2007-08 and thereafter, $.90,000 $125,542, to be paid 
biweekly. 
Sec. 5. 4 MRS A §157, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §7, is 
further amended to read: 
Page I - 123LR2476(Ol)-! 
2. Chief Judge; salary. The Chief Judge of the District Court is entitled to receive a 
salary, for fiscal year 1998 99 2007-08 and thereafter, of $94,000 .H30,8J..1, to be paid 
biweekly. 
Sec. 6. 4 MRSA §157, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1997, c. 643, Pt. M, §8, is 
further amended to read: 
3. Deputy Chief Judge; salary. The Deputy Chief Judge of the District Court is 
entitled to receive a salary, for fiscal year 1998 99 2007-08 and thereafter, of $92,000 
$128,213, to be paid biweekly. 
Sec. 7. 4 MRS A §157, sub-§4, ~A, as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 643, 
Pt. M, §9, is amended to read: 
A. For fiscal year 199899 2007-08 and thereafter, $90,000 $125,542, to be paid 
biweekly. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited m the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill, submitted by the Judicial Compensation Commission as part of its 2007 
report to the Legislature, increases judicial salaries to levels that would have been 
achieved if the recommendations made in the commission's 1996 report had been fully 
implemented.