Federal judges lose bid for pay raises

[DogPoundPup]

Source: L.A. Times

Reporting from Washington -- Joining the many who felt shortchanged by 2008 are the nation's federal judges.

They were the only federal employees who did not receive a cost-of-living pay increase. And in December, they lost out when a bill before Congress to significantly raise their salaries was dropped during the debate over the proposed auto-industry bailout.

In his fourth year-end report on the federal judiciary, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said he has been repeating himself.

"I suspect many are tired of hearing it, and I know I am tired of saying it, but I must make this plea again: Congress must provide judicial compensation that keeps pace with inflation," he wrote. "Judges knew what the pay was when they answered the call of public service. But they did not know that Congress would steadily erode that pay in real terms by repeatedly failing over the years to provide even cost-of-living increases."


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-judiciary1-2009jan01,0,861295.story

[MikeNearMcChord]

1. Hey judges! How about forming a union, or join one

hell submit a petition to the government for your intent to organize. I'm sure the AFL-CIO or SEIU may be in your alley.

[LiberalFighter]

7. They already have a union. The ABA for one and for the Republicans they have the Federalist Society.

[Joanne98]

2. 62% of the federal judges are republicans.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

20. Executive Pug rule for 20 of the last 28 years matches that % nicely. nt

[AZ Criminal JD]

3. Federal judge's salary should be doubled.

With current salary levels the only people that will accept federal judgeships are people that are independently wealthy or people who are inferior in the legal profession and can't make it elsewhere.

[pattmarty]

18. Yeah, well try telling that to your neighbor that just got bounced..........

.........from Circuit city (making 20K a year). I hear what you are saying and agree to a point, but in this environment good luck for ANYONE getting a raise.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Teachers salaries should be doubled too

We are also paid by the government and we, unlike judges, are grossly underpaid. Let's double teachers salaries and then maybe I will endorse judges getting a raise too.

[AZ Criminal JD]

31. Since you are "grossly underpaid"

What is a fair salary? Please don't give some vague doublespeak, give a number.

[proud2BlibKansan]

33. Starting pay $50 to $60K a year

Average pay $80 to $90K

[AZ Criminal JD]

34. So for a nine month job you want pay far above what the average employee makes

Should there be an upper limit?

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. Teaching is not a 9 month job

I am so sick of that myth.

I have as much education as my cousin who is a doctor. I want to be paid as well as she is.

[Joe Bacon]

23. NO!

Bush has packed the benches with his Federalist Society Corporate Stooges. If they can't make ends meet, then they should quit and go back to their full time whoring!

[AZ Criminal JD]

32. So when Obama wants to pack the benches

And he can't get quality people what will you say then?

[1monster]

4. Why must "Congress provide the Judges with compensation that keeps

pace with inflation" Judge Roberts?

God knows the rest of us, living on far less than Federal Judges, are not getting "compensation that keeps pace with inflation."

In fact, not only are the working and middle class citizens not getting pay raises commensurate with inflation, they are seeing compensation being cut in actual pay per hour and in hours worked.

Suffer along with the rest of us, Judge Roberts. Austerity, they say, is good for the soul.

[AZ Criminal JD]

8. They won't suffer, they quit to make more money.

Then people on DU complain about the quality of court decisions we get from inferior judges or super wealth judges.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. Anyone who can't live on $169,000 a year

isn't smart enough to be a judge anyway.

[cstanleytech]

29. Yeah, when their living on less then $20,000.00 a year then I'll consider

their asking for a raise, till then they need to stfu and go into private practice if being a judge is such an undue burden.

[katandmoon]

5. Aww then why don't you just go ahead and RESIGN, Justice Roberts?

I didn't think so.

[AZ Criminal JD]

9. He is not speaking for himself

He is speaking as Head the U.S. judicial conference which is the federal district judges and federal appellate judges.

[Wickerman]

6. If it pisses you off that much, Johnny Boy, resign

I'll shed no tears.

[LiberalFighter]

10. 2008 Salaries -- I have no sympathy... especially for the Chief Justice.

In 2008, U.S. district judges earned $169,300, and U.S. appeals court judges earned $179,500. At the Supreme Court, the eight associate justices were paid $208,100, and the chief justice was paid $217,400.

[AlabamaBrightBlueDot]

11. a mere pittance.... I suppose they will have to go to the food bank n/t

[norepubsin08]

12. Good all Federal Judges

Have an ego way too big for their worth in society...most of them are bunch of control freak arrogant assholes who are nothing but scum!!!!

[DJ13]

13. Want more money judges? Petition Congress to enact a COLA for ALL wages

Then you and the other millions of workers who are always falling behind due to inflation ......wont.

[ellenfl]

14. talk about out of touch! sheesh. eom

[asjr]

15. If I were Judge Roberts I would just

resign on the spot and let President Obama replace him. (sarcasm)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

16. And how many non-federal workers have had to take pay CUTS?

And how many have LOST their JOBS?

What if we decided to save money and cut a couple of spots on the SCOTUS?

[judesedit]

17. Cost of living increase? How about giving that to the people who need it!

Many out here don't even have jobs. I say all federal employees should be forgoing any increases of any type. After all, these federal workers did nothing to prosecute this administration and others who have destroyed this country and its reputation in 8 short years. NOTHING! They all took oaths to uphold The Constitution. Instead, they have allowed all of this destruction to take place, while turning their backs. They are overpaid already. They have excellent benefits and abuse the law whenever they want and have immunity, while everyone else suffers. Bull crap! NO RAISES FOR ANY OF THEM! Their Grade for performance is "F".

[ProgressiveProfessor]

19. Its is not as bad an idea as it sounds...last serveral Chief Justices have pushed this as well

If the job does not pay enough to attract good lawyers, all we will have are lawyers who have already made a pot full of money or are trust fund babies. Is that what we want in the Federal Judiciary, independently wealthy people, who would have no feeling for the poor and the working classes?

Not proposing we make them millionaires, but high enough so that good lawyers would consider leaving private practice for judgeships. Yes its public service, but are we sure we really want what the current scheme gets us?

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. They currently make $169,000 a year

They certainly aren't starving or facing foreclosure.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

26. Do all federal judges get that?

Also bear in mind a successful lawyer in a metropolitan area makes $300K or more

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. That figure has been posted in numerous threads on this topic

So I guess it's true. I saw it on DU :)

[ProgressiveProfessor]

28. Found this

Its 4 years old, but it show that different judges get paid at different levels. However there appears to be no differential for senoirity or location. The ladder is odd, since all the rest of Civil Service gets locality pay.

http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/98-53.pdf

Interesting counterpoint here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081226/ap_on_go_ot/judges__pay


My main concern is that I do not want the judiciary to be the refuge for wealthy individuals who are tired of working as a lawyer.

[Charlie Brown]

25. I guess I can see that they need their own staff and researchers

Apart from that, I'm not sure why the job requires a significant salary. These robes should be able to live on $169K a year.

[Trillo]

30. What is "the quirk"?

If other federal employees are receiving raises, something seems wrong if judges are not also getting a raise. Why are they not considered federal employees entitled to COLAs? Is this congress's way of exerting influence on the judiciary?

We also need living wages instead of a minimum wage for all workers.

[tabasco]

36. If 5 out of 9 federal judges hadn't ignored the law and given us a shit-for-brains for President

maybe they would get their fucking raise.