Judicial Salary Increase Bill Gets Subcommittee Nod

A Florida Senate subcommittee has recommended on a 10-0 vote that compensation judges’ salaries be raised by nearly 22% and their initial terms be expanded from four to six years. Senate Bill 1412, sponsored by Sen. David Simmons, R-Longwood, calls for judges in the Office of Judges of Compensation Claims (OJCC) to be paid the same as county judges, who preside over misdemeanor criminal cases and civil cases with up to $15,000 in dispute. OJCC judges now earn $124,564 but would receive raises to $151,822, under the bill. SB 1412 received unanimous support Thursday from ...