THE CHIEF-LEADER welcomes letters from its readers for publication.
Correspondents must include their names, addresses and
phone numbers. Letters should be submitted with the understanding
that all correspondence is subject to the editorial judgment of this
newspaper. Letters can be e-mailed to: RSTEIER@RCN.COM or
mailed to: Richard Steier, Editor, 277 Broadway, Suite 1506, NY, NY
10007.

COURT PAY PROBLEM

Court Pay Problem

I have been a court administrator for almost 25 years and would like to point out some additional facts which have gone unspoken by court unions.

The Governor has proposed a 25-percent increase for judges for the period of 1999 to 2007 with two years' retroactive pay. I believe the judges in this state certainly deserve a raise, but it should be noted that court employees have received smaller raises over the same period of time.

Court employees include many titles including Attorneys, Law Clerks, Court Clerks and security guards, etc., all of whom live in the same communities as judges, send their children to the same schools, shop at the same stores, etc.

The Governor needs to address both the judges' raises and court employee raises. During the past 12 years, covering the tenure of Governor Pataki, court employees in several years got no raise. Let us separate fact from fiction when this issue is looked at.

While judges are not resigning due to low wages, high-level court clerks are in fact leaving for greener pastures. For example, the Clerk of Court assigned to the Supreme Court, 1st Department, Catherine O'Hagen Wolfe, is resigning to accept a higher-paying position with the Federal Court. In addition, a few months ago, the Chief Clerk assigned to Kings Supreme Civil Court, Ed Volpe, resigned to accept a higher-paying position with the Federal court.

In closing, if the benchmark for state judges' salaries is the Federal courts, then let's be fair and just to all New York State court employees. Governor Spitzer must treat all court employees fairly regardless of whether you're elected, appointed or hold a civil service title. We should all keep in mind the true meaning of "Justice" and get away from Just-Us judges.

JOHN CIARNS