Bigger travel budgets for the Supremes

An appropriations implementing bill awaiting a final vote (HB 5003) contains some unusual language that relates to the recent resignation of Florida Supreme Court Justice Raoul Cantero. The provision tucked inside the 64-page measure allows justices to be reimbursed for up to 36 trips a year "from the county in which the justice resides" over the next year as long as that justice lives more than 50 miles from Tallahassee. Payments include travel, subsistence and a per diem allowance, and must be authorized by the chief justice.

It was brought to House Speaker Marco Rubio's attention that it was a challence for Cantero, a long-time Coral Gables resident, to maintain two homes while serving on the state's highest court. As of July 1, justices will earn $161,200 annually.

Comments

This is a very wise move. Judicial pay has not been increased in years and likely will not be touched for quite some time. This will at least make it a little less painful for new Justices coming from private practice, taking a 200k to 500k pay cut to join the court.

This costs the state relatively nothing, and will surely help increase the pool of top legal talent for the Supreme Court.

7:43 agree on the pay issue, but is there any requirement that they keep their original residence?

[Donald Lance]

Jey Judge Gumby posing as 7:43. Get a life and get off this board! How is a travel expense account going to increase the talent pool? Don't you think that anybody nominated as a Justice would jump at the chance, reguardless of the this expense? You need to get your butt kicked for such a stupid remark!

This is not the first time per diem for Justices has been raised....Judges, the Cabinet and the Gov/LG don't get per diem either....and only the Governor gets free housing. One thing that makes the Justices issue compelling is that the Constitution requires that they come from one of 5 Appellate Districts...

8:01 - yes come from, but does it require that they remain a resident of the district?

and what is the per diem for? the assumption is they have a residence that they are travelling to... I assume it would have a refridgerator and they would have the ability to buy some food at a grocery store...

7:43 - yes, most likely take a pay cut, but when they decide to leave, will be more than compensated for the title.

[Don Mott]

I'm kinda foggy on how these things work but I know that most people who accept a new job in a different zone move to the new area or are out of luck. If your new job doesn't pay enough to commute then you would typically turn it down, not come back later and ask for commuting reimbursement.

Amen. Its a fulltime job based in Tallahassee. Move the family or say "no thanks, Gov".

[terminator]

I'm sure most Floridians are crying in their beer for poor Justice Cantero!
If you couldn't handle it or afford the job you shouldn't have taken it!
Either that or move your sorry *ss fulltime to Tallahassee.
As far as the available pool of candidates for Florida Supreme Court, I'm sure there are some out there who would consider it an honor to serve on the high court and not be worried about travel compensation.
STUPID!!!!!!!