Texas Governor Greg Abbott has taken steps to ensure that the state's judges are compensated appropriately, appointing Rodney Anderson and reappointing Phil Johnson and Linda Kinney to the Judicial Compensation Commission. The terms of these appointments are slated to run until February 1, 2029, during which time the trio will recommend salaries for judges at all levels of Texas courts, from district courts right up through the Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals of the state, according to Office of the Texas Governor.
Rodney Anderson, a name known in the circles of Grand Prairie, brings to the table his experience as executive vice president and national agency manager for Alliant National Title Insurance Company, and his past legislative work as a representative for Texas House Districts 105 and 106 where he weighed in on multiple committees like Insurance, Elections, and Urban Affairs but also while serving, Anderson has a history of community involvement that includes board positions with the Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Irving and the Grand Prairie Family YMCA, not to mention his past work as president of the Texas Land Title Association and his stint as fundraising chair for Boy Scouts of America.
Phil Johnson's legal credentials are highlighted by his tenure as a Justice, and subsequently as Chief Justice of the Seventh Court of Appeals prior to his ascension to Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, his resume is fleshed out with affiliations such as being a life fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Texas Bar Foundation, moreover, he's dedicated time to organizations like the Boy Scouts of America – Golden Spread Council, and provided legal aid through the Lubbock County Legal Aid Society, packing a punch to his commitment to the community besides the courts. Johnson is an alumnus of Texas Tech University, with a Bachelor's in Mathematics and a Juris Doctor from the university's School of Law.
Linda Kinney of Comfort arrives at the commission with the wind of over 30 years of public service at her back, having previously held two terms on the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority and begun her stint on the Judicial Compensation Commission in 2019, her extensive background in public service encapsulates a dedication to the mechanics of state-level governance and the ongoing work of ensuring fairness and equity within the institutional framework of Texas.
