Council to Benefit From Municipal Judges’ Raises

The Los Angeles City Council will receive a temporary pay boost--about $777 a month--under an arrangement for Municipal Court judges approved recently by the Judicial Council, city officials said Friday.

The salaries of council members, who make $98,069 annually, are tied to those of Municipal Court judges. The Judicial Council approved a temporary pay increase to allow Municipal Court judges who handle Superior Court cases to make the same salary as Superior Court judges--$107,390--or $9,321 more a year.

The raises, which also apply in larger amounts to the controller, city attorney and the mayor, will be in effect until December and only during the months when Municipal Court judges receive the raises. Mayor Richard Riordan, however, takes only $1 a year from the city.

Also potentially affecting council salaries is Proposition 220, which if approved by voters, would abolish Municipal Court judgeships. In that case, council salaries would match Superior Court judge’s salaries on a permanent basis.