Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard has approved a 1.3 percent pay increase for judges and prosecutors. The chief justice’s approval of judicial pay raises is required under the budget passed by the Indiana Legislature this year.

House Enrolled Act 1001, Section 265 says that any adjustment to pay during the new biennium can only take effect if it is also approved by the chief justice once the governor directs that cost-of-living or performance-based increases should occur.

In December 2010, Gov. Mitch Daniels granted a pay increase of 1.3 percent to government employees after a two-year pay freeze. In the order released Thursday, Chief Justice Shepard said, “After two years of frozen salaries, it is altogether right that the pay raise afforded to the state’s Executive Branch employees in January should be given to judges and prosecutors and their families this coming July.”

The chief justice said court revenue is expected to be “largely adequate” to cover the increase.