TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey voters will decide
whether state judges can be forced to pay more for their pensions and health
care.
A question on the Nov. 6 ballot asks voters to amend the state constitution
to apply a 2011 law to judges and Supreme Court justices. The law requires more
money to be deducted from public workers' salaries to help pay for benefits.
A Superior Court judge fought the law and won. The state Supreme Court found
the law violated the constitution by effectively reducing judges' salaries while
they're on the bench.
The law raises judges' pension contribution from 3 percent of their salary to
12 percent by 2017.
Most judges earn $165,000.
Some of the state's 462 judges are already paying the higher
contribution.
