Judiciary Committee Approves Big Pay Raise for Comp Judges

A bill that would raise Florida compensation judges' salary by 22% passed a key Senate committee Monday with a unanimous vote. After hearing from judges and other stakeholders, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-0 Monday to approve Senate Bill 780, which would raise compensation judges' salaries to be equal to that of county court judges. Judges have warned for years that the job is less likely to attract qualified attorneys if the pay is not improved. The bill, sponsored by Sen. David Simmons, R-Longwood, would raise comp judges' annual salaries, from $124,564 to $151,82...