Oh yes, it would be more than easy for the legislative and executive branch to get together and slash and eliminate salaries for judges. Course they would probably then rule that they can't do that because it tinkers with the independence of the jud. So I think elimination is better than slashing. Yes, they can definitely dissolve courts and no one can say a damn thing about it. But try getting them to!
ARTICLE III, Section I
The Judges, both of the Supreme Court and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shat, at stated Times, receive for their services, a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office."
Obviously, there is a behaviour question that could be raised. If they dissolved the lower federal courts (because they can't get rid of the Supreme Court), the Supreme Court would have to hear the hundreds of thousands of cases filed each year. If you think that's fine and the states should handle everything, you wouldn't be all that wrong, constitutionally speaking, but that is the exact issue that most people are raising in this post: "the federal government should be able to do something about it."
ARTICLE III, Section I
The Judges, both of the Supreme Court and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their services, a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office."
Obviously, there is a behaviour question that could be raised. If they dissolved the lower federal courts (because they can't get rid of the Supreme Court), the Supreme Court would have to hear the hundreds of thousands of cases filed each year. If you think that's fine and the states should handle everything, you wouldn't be all that wrong, constitutionally speaking, but that is the exact issue that most people are raising in this post: "the federal government should be able to do something about it."