DES MOINES – Iowa judges may get a raise after the Iowa legislature was asked today to consider salary increases.
Iowa Courts Administrator David Boyd today asked the legislature for $2.26 million extra to pay judges. The funds would go to a 5% salary increase for judges; there has only been one increase since 2008, according to Iowa Senator Rob Hogg.
Some say judges are over-worked and deserve the pay increase.
Others blame judges for going too easy on habitual criminals, especially in the North Iowa area. Many locals say law enforcement rid the streets of dangerous offenders only to have judges give them chance after chance, setting them free, prolonging court proceedings, or sending them to halfway houses.
In District 2A, which covers Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin and many other North Central counties, the judges typically make well over six-figures. For example, Colleen Weiland is paid $143,897.00 plus over $2,000 for expenses. Dedra Schroeder is paid $143,897.00 plus nearly $4,000 for expenses. Rustin T. Davenport also makes $143,897.00 plus over $2,700 in expenses. James Drew earns the same salary plus $5,672.25 for expenses.