West VirginiaWest Virginia sets judges’ and magistrates’ pay starting July 2027
West Virginia’s law sets magistrates’ annual pay at $70,000 starting July 1, 2027, and schedules judges’ salaries for July 2027 and July 2028.
What it does
Magistrates’ annual pay is set at $70,000 starting July 1, 2027. Judges have scheduled salary amounts starting July 1, 2027, and July 1, 2028.
Starting July 1, 2027, judges who choose the state’s judges’ retirement system must contribute seven percent of their salary through deductions from their paychecks.
Courts and the Legislature may skip payments into the judges’ retirement fund when the State Actuary determines that its funding level exceeds 125 percent.
Argument forThe scheduled salaries could help West Virginia keep experienced magistrates and judges by making continued service more financially attractive.
Argument againstSkipping state retirement payments when funding exceeds 125 percent could give the judges’ retirement fund a smaller cushion against future losses.
More detail
The law sets annual pay for West Virginia magistrates and judges. Starting July 1, 2027, annual pay is $70,000 for magistrates, $154,600 for Supreme Court justices, $143,600 for circuit judges, $113,950 for family judges, and $147,500 for Intermediate Court of Appeals judges. Starting July 1, 2028, annual pay is $159,600 for Supreme Court justices, $148,600 for circuit judges, $118,950 for family judges, and $152,500 for Intermediate Court of Appeals judges.
Participating judges must pay seven percent of their salary into the Judges’ Retirement Fund through paycheck deductions. The rule covers judges serving in West Virginia courts of record. The requirement applies to judges who choose to participate in this retirement system. The seven percent contribution and paycheck deduction apply on or after July 1, 2027.
Courts and the Legislature do not have to contribute to the Judges’ Retirement Fund when its funding level exceeds 125 percent. This rule covers payments by the courts and Legislature into the Judges’ Retirement Fund. The State Actuary must determine that the fund’s funding level exceeds 125 percent. The law measures funding by dividing fund assets by the total of those assets and its unfunded accrued liability, meaning retirement obligations not covered by assets. The exemption applies in any year when the funding level exceeds that threshold.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 25Chapter 88, Acts, Regular Session, 2026Latest
- Apr 1Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 4/1/2026Major
- Mar 19To Governor 3/19/2026To Governor
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 4/1/2026 - House JournalMajor
- Vote recorded Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Effective July 1, 2026. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 14Approved by Governor Patrick Morrisey 4/1/2026 - Senate JournalBecame Law
- Mar 14To Governor 3/19/2026 - Senate JournalMinor
- Mar 14Completed legislative action
- Mar 14Communicated to House
- Mar 14Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 640)
- Mar 14Senate concurred in House amendments and passed bill (Roll No. 639)
- Mar 14House Message received
- Mar 13Communicated to Senate
- Vote recorded PASSAGE. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded EFFECT Jul 01, 2026. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 13Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 511)
- Mar 13Passed House (Roll No. 510)Passed House
- Mar 13Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 13On 3rd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 12Committee amendment adopted (Voice vote)
- Mar 12Amendment reported by the Clerk
- Mar 12Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 12On 2nd reading, Special Calendar
- Mar 11Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 11Immediate consideration
- Mar 11With amendment, do passMinor
- Mar 5To House FinanceMinor
- Mar 5To FinanceMinor
- Mar 5Introduced in HouseMinor
- Mar 5House received Senate message
- Mar 4Ordered to House
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Effective July 1, 2026. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4Effective July 1, 2026 (Roll No. 319)
- Mar 4Passed Senate (Roll No. 318)Passed Senate
- Mar 4Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 4On 3rd reading
- Mar 3Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 3On 2nd reading
- Mar 2Read 1st timeMinor
- Mar 2Immediate consideration
- Mar 2Committee substitute reported
- Jan 14To FinanceMinor
- Jan 14Introduced in SenateMinor
- Jan 14To FinanceMinor
- Jan 14Filed for introductionIntroduced
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