Missouri Supreme Court rules state doesn't owe judges back pay

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Supreme Court judges say the state doesn't owe two retired judges who later asked for more money based on federal judges' pay.

The high court's ruling Tuesday deals with a 2010 policy change that tied state judges' salaries to their federal counterparts' income.

Federal judges received a pay bump after claiming Congress in some years denied them cost-of-living adjustments they were entitled to under a 1989 federal law. That meant Missouri judges also were paid less, so state judges sued for back pay and an increase in retirement benefits.

But the Supreme Court said the state followed the law by adjusting state judges' pay July 1 every year based on federal increases.

The high court also ruled retired circuit judge Peggy Stevens McGraw doesn't deserve higher retirement benefits.