Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson says the state is losing judges because their salaries haven't kept pace with the times.
Jefferson made his remarks Wednesday to a joint session of the Texas
House and Senate during the annual State of the Judiciary speech.
Governor Rick Perrry's proposed state budget calls for pay raises for judges.
Jefferson says judges double or triple their salaries by returning to the private sector.
Texas ranks 39th among states for salaries for judges on the state's highest courts.
Jefferson makes $115 thousand per year as chief justice.
Other justices on the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal
Appeals make $113 thousand.
High court judges in California make $176 thousand per year.
Jefferson also said he'd like to provide real-time video web casting of oral arguments before the Texas Supreme Court.
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