HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania judges on the Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth courts lease a variety of luxury cars including Cadillacs, a Mercedes-Benz and high-end SUVs at the state’s expense, a Pittsburgh newspaper reported.

The newspaper reported Sunday that 25 jurists in the state lease cars under a provision that reimburses them up to $600 a month; 13 opt not to lease vehicles. The state began paying for cars for appellate judges in 1990, and the practice continues despite other elected and appointed state officials who use cheaper fleet vehicles to keep costs down.

Greg Wrightstone, of the PA Coalition for Responsible Government, said the car allowances are even harder to understand because the state’s top judges are among the nation’s highest paid. Some make in excess of $175,000 a year, he said.

“These judges receive excessive perks, including extravagant car allowances, dinner expenses, health care and pension benefits, and the taxpayers are left to foot the bill,” Wrightstone told the newspaper.

Among the judges’ cars are $568 a month for a 2010 Cadillac driven by Chief Justice Ronald Castille and $450 a month for a 2010 Mercedes-Benz driven by Superior Court Judge Sallie Updyke Mundy. Supreme Court Justice Max Baer leases a 2010 GMC Acadia from his brother’s Washington dealership for $510 a month.

“Because of the amount we drive, and terrible weather, I don’t want to sound spoiled but I want air conditioning and a heating system that work, all-wheel-drive and stability control so I don’t end up rolled up on the side of the road,” Baer told the newspaper.

Duquesne University law professor Bruce Ledewitz said there is little accountability of how much judges spend and it symbolizes a culture of arrogance.

A spokesman for Gov.-elect Tom Corbett said he will review the judiciary’s car allowances. The governor doesn’t control the allowances, however he can sign or veto budgets. The state is facing a $4 billion deficit next year and Corbett has pledged to reduce the government fleet of 16,000 cars.

Incoming Superior Court President Judge Correale Stevens leases a Chevy Equinox for $582 a month.

“I know these are tough budget times,” Stevens said. “We’ll have to take that under consideration.”