The 10 Cobb County Superior Court judges and the Cobb District Attorney will receive a four percent raise retroactive to Oct. 6.
By a split vote of 3-2, the Cobb Board of Commissioners authorized on Oct. 8 this increase to begin Oct. 6 when a four percent merit increase also became effective for all Cobb County employees.
Opposed were Commissioners Bob Ott and Keli Gambrill with Commission Chairman Mike Boyce and Commissioners JoAnn Birrell and Lisa Cupid in favor.
Since the Superior Court judges and the DA are state employees, Ott said, “The state needs to take responsibility for the Superior Court judges. At some point in time, we’ve got to tell the state enough.”
Boyce said he would bring this matter to the Cobb delegation of state lawmakers when they meet in December.
However, Boyce said, “We have the best judges in the state. I don’t believe we should hold their salary back. It’s the first merit raise in four or five years.”
Cobb Superior Court Administrator Tom Charron noted that the DA and the Superior Court judges have received one salary raise from the state in 16 years and no raise this year from the state - other than a supplement from Cobb County.
The Cobb commissioners have the authority to enact the four percent raise for all Superior Court Judges without seeking legislative action as provided under 2014 Georgia Laws Act 450 (House Bill 1126), Charron added.
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