MinnLawyer Blog

We mentioned in the blog last week that the federal judges didn’t get their pay raise when the auto bailout bill crashed, which is most unfortunate. However, we should have referred to it as a cost of living increase, not a raise, and that’s important because federal employees who aren’t judges routinely get COLAs. Judges only get a bump when Congress passes a law directly authorizing it. This year, federal employees received a 3.9 percent cost of living adjustment, except for members of Congress and federal judges. Judges and legislators were to receive a 2.9 percent increase but judges haven’t seen it. If they don’t get it this year, this will be the sixth time since 1987 that judges have gone without a COLA. Meanwhile, Congress’ COLA will be automatically enacted.