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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court says Utah lawmakers should consider raising the salaries of the state's judges.
Chief Justice Matthew Durrant endorsed the proposal Monday afternoon during his annual State of the Judiciary address to lawmakers.
Durrant says he agrees with a December report from the state Elected Official and Judicial Compensation Commission that says low salaries have resulted in fewer applicants for open judicial appointments.
Durrant says higher salaries will help the state attract talented lawyers with private sector experience to serve on the bench.
Judicial salaries were last increased in 2007.
Judicial pay now ranges from about $136,000 for district judges to $150,000 for state Supreme Court justices.
The report recommends those salaries jump to $160,000 and $176,000, respectively.
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