Board recommends all Oklahoma judges receive 17% pay raise

A panel has recommended all Oklahoma judges receive a 17.58% salary hike.

If approved by lawmakers, the proposed hike recommended Tuesday by the Board of Judicial Compensation would mean the Oklahoma Supreme Court chief justice would earn $233,062 a year while district judges would make $197,189.

Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman, who serves as president of the Oklahoma Judges Association, said the cost will be about $10 million.

The state has 277 trial and appellate judges, Balkman said.

In a letter to state leaders, Ty Tyler, Board on Judicial Compensation chair, said the increase would make Oklahoma judicial salaries equivalent to the regional average.

Oklahoma ranks 45th in judicial pay, the letter said.

“It was the agreement of the board that the role of our jud