Texas Chief Justice Requests More Judge Pay, Less Litigant Costs

Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock again lobbied state lawmakers to increase judges’ salaries Wednesday, while also asking them to consider options he’s proposing to reduce litigation expenses to Texans, including letting paralegals take on certain cases.

During his first state of the judiciary address, Blacklock, who became the high court’s top justice last month, pushed for a 30% base pay raise for district court judges. Texas ranks almost last in the country in district judge pay at $140,000 a year, which Blacklock said makes the job unattractive to “serious” candidates. Texas last gave judges a base pay raise ...