Will There Be Many New Judges In Masssachussetts
Judges in Massachusetts will be getting a pay increase on July 1st. This means that trial-level judges will receive a yearly pay of $160,000 per year. However, the Boston Globe has reported that the pay increase does not mean that the old judges will be sticking around. Pensions are set at seventy five percent of a judge’s top pay. And a judge will only need to work at the higher salary for one day in order to get the increased retirement pay.
In order for a judge to get the highest pension, a judge typically has to work for at least 15 years. Judges must also be at least 65 years old in order to qualify for the highest pension.
It is estimated that at least 30 judges in Massachusetts will retire. The Boston Globe also states that the inexperienced judges who will be taking the place of people retiring could slow down the judicial system. Another seventeen judges will reach the age of 70 soon, and that is the mandatory age for retirement.
Over 500 lawyers who are interested in judgeships have sent in applications. The applications for judgeships are reviewed by a judicial nominating committee. The members of the nominating committee are appointed by the government. The nominating committee looks at the applications, but they do not see the names of the people who are applying for the position. The nominating committee selects applicants for interviews and conducts the interviews. After they have conducted the interviews, they will send the names of the recommendations to the governor.
Patrick Donovan is a criminal defense attorney in Massachusetts. Attorney Donovan has appeared in over fifty courts in Massachusetts. Attorney Donovan handles both felony and misdemeanor crimes. Attorney Donovan has tried many cases both as a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney.