Relating to salaries and retirement benefits of judges

SB 782 increases the annual salaries for West Virginia judges, including magistrates, Supreme Court justices, circuit court judges, and family court judges, with specific raises effective July 1, 2026, and 2027 (e.g., circuit judges from $138,600 to $143,600 in 2026). It modifies judicial retirement benefits by suspending court contributions to the retirement system until a condition is met, treating post-2005 retirees as pre-2005 retirees, and increasing surviving spouse benefits. The bill also eliminates distinctions between certain judges when calculating survivor and dependent benefits and removes limits on retirement benefit increases. These changes directly affect current and retired judges in West Virginia’s judicial system.