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Judges are Called to Serve the Public

October 2008

By Judge Jeff Cox

First of all, why do I serve? I consider it an honor to serve. I believe that each person who serves in public office has to be called to serve. It is definitely not for the pay, as I will discuss in other parts of this column. I feel that I was called to do this job. It is a tough job from the part that people walk out not liking you or your decisions. One party always wins, and one party always loses. Even though it is a tough job, it is a rewarding job. This job allows me to help people, if I can. It allows me to affect change in people’s lives that hopefully will help them down the road of life. I get to see the best in people and the worst in people. Fortunately, more times than not, most people at least understand that I am calling the case according to the rules given to me by the law. The reward in the job is seeing a life changed for the better and knowing that I got an opportunity to be an integral part of a person’s life.

The second question is what do Judges in the State of Louisiana get paid? Judges received a cost-of-living pay raise by the Louisiana Legislature in 2006. District Court Judges, by the year 2010, will make $118,289.00. Each Judge gets a $5000.00 allowance to attend required training seminars. These seminars are mandated by the Louisiana Supreme Court and if they are not attended can cause a Judge to be removed from the bench for lack of training and education. In addition, Judges are paid mileage to and from work since many of them are in rural parishes and have to travel a number of miles to get to the courthouse. In the 26th Judicial District, Judges are required to travel to both to Benton and Minden. Each Judge pays for their health insurance and makes an 11% contribution to their retirement out of each paycheck. These deductions take a healthy bite out of each check. Judges are paid once a month. Even with the cost-of-living pay increase given to Judges in 2006, Louisiana ranks 39th in the nation in Judge’s pay.

As you can see, Judges make a good salary. However, most attorneys will make far more in private practice. A person who chooses to be a Judge does so out of a duty to serve the public and help people. It is a wonderful job with awesome responsibility to the public and the people we serve.

Jeff Cox is the 26th Judicial District Court Judge for Bossier/Webster Parishes, Division C.