Capital watch

Alittle-known state law allows eligible judges to receive generous retirement pay for a dozen years while collecting their regular six-figure salaries.

S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald Beatty wants a 33% pay hike for himself and other appellate and lower-court judges.

His salary would go from $156,234 to $208,000, a US District Court judge’s pay.

If lawmakers approve the raise, separate retire-in-place pay for eligible judges still on the bench – 90% of their regular salaries – would grow by the same rate.

Two Supreme Court associate justices – John Kittredge and Kaye Hearn – confirmed they receive special retirement pay. Associate Justice John Few said he does not.

Beatty and Associate Justice George James did not respond to written requests.

The annual pay for Kittredge and the other associate Supreme Court justices is $148,974. Kittredge said he receives about $11,000 a month in retirement pay. That works out to about $132,000 yearly.

Hearn would not reveal her pay.

The judges’ and prosecutors’ retirement system is the smallest in the state pension system with 213 retirees, their beneficiaries or other qualified recipients. But their system pays the highest average monthly benefit – $8,424 over the past 10 fiscal years.

In comparison, the pension system for general employees paid an average monthly benefit of $1,487 over 10 years.

Like judges, lawmakers receive generous retirement benefits based on annual pay.

In 2014, we revealed the double-dipping by then-Chief Justice Jean Toal and Associate Justice Costa Pleicones. Toal received about $131,000 in retirement pay and Pleicones’ about $125,306.

Records show that four senators, including Sen. Hugh Leatheman, R-Florence added the “retire-in-place” benefit while Toal was chief justice. The Supreme Court had given favorable rulings to the legislature.

For example, the court ruled that Leather-man’s and then-Rep. Chip Limehouse’s membership on the board of the State Transportation Infrastructure Bank did not violate the constitution. The board over the years has funneled billions of dollars to construction projects in select counties.

South Carolina and Virginia are the only states where lawmakers elect judges.

The Supreme Court has 5 justices, the Court of Appeals 9, circuit courts 49 and family courts 60 judges under state law.

In submitting his proposed pay raises for judges, Chief Justice Beatty did not provide a percentage increase or specific salaries though he would get a 33% raise. Other appellate and lower-court judges elected by lawmakers will receive the same raise.

Judges are relatively well-paid compared to other private and public employees. The median household income in the state was $49,501 in 2016. Only 9 states were lower.

Here is what a few judges would be paid under the chief justice’s proposal:

• Supreme Court chief justice $208,000

• Supreme Court associates $198,095

•Court of Appeals chief $196,114

• Court of Appeals associates $193,143

Circuit court judges $188,190

Family court judges $183,238

Brundrett is the news editor of The Nerve. Contact him at 803-254-4411 or rick@thenerve.org .