[indcons]

From the article: "The issue of pay, says Roberts, 'has now reached the level of a constitutional crisis.'"

I did a search for this article and using the keyword search feature and didn't see this article posted. Though the article is a day old, I thought it was still relevant.

FReepers who follow the Supreme Court might recall that Justice Scalia had made simlar remarks in a public speech a couple of weeks ago.

[EGPWS]

The issue of pay, says Roberts, "has now reached the level of a constitutional crisis."

Mr. Roberts, let's tackles more pressing Constitutional crisis' first.

Take your pick of dozens....

[MinuteGal]

An enterprising investigative reporter (a dying breed) could easily put together the yearly incomes of these judges factoring in the benefits.....including health insurance, drivers and car allowances, pensions, dining-room food free or at reduced prices, exercise rooms and pools available to them, travel expenses, secretary, aides and other staff subsidies.......need I go on?

I would wager that their yearly income before taxes is three times the amount given out for public consumption.

Leni

[Wormwood]

In other words: "We act on behalf of the upper class, why shouldn't we be compensated accordingly?"

[RicocheT]

A pay raise for federal judges does not resonate with most U.S. citizens. After all, they get paid for life, even after retiring and off the bench--full pay. They have life time appointments and don't spend a dime on getting reelected. They set their own work hours, case load and get vacation and sick leave as they wish it. They can't be kicked out of the job for most of the reasons mere mortals can.

[tubebender]

This will only work for me if the money comes from the budget of the 9th Circus Court of Appeals...

[dennisw]

Judges have a much easier job than lawyers in the dreaded private sector. Judges get fantastic state and Federal pensions. Many judges are lawyers who just can't hack it in the private sector so they make the payoffs bribes ass-kissing to secure a judgeship

Say a lawyer busts his butt for 20 years. Getting a judge appointment is like semi-retirement and with a great pension awaiting you in your golden years

[RGSpincich]

Some folks clean their own homes, drive cars long after paying them off, shop in bulk at Costco, shop the sales at department stores, cook their own meals in their own kitchen, etc, etc.....

Judges just need to learn how to live on what they make.

[atomicpossum]

U.S. District Court judges, the backbone of the federal judiciary, are paid about half that of deans and senior law professors at top schools.

Ah, yes, but there is the perk of God-like power.

[Earthdweller]

OK....these guys didn't check the pay scales for these jobs before they took them?

Some people are just not disciplined enough to stay on a budget. Sheesh.

That said, bribes are likely at these rates. Heck, bribes are just plain likely.

Seriously, poney up a 3% increase anyway. Everyone is entitled to that.

[Mojave]

Give 'em an extra hundred grand a year if they agree to at will employment.

[William Terrell]

Geez, what more do they want? They don't have a life anyway.

[thinking]

I think it should read: blasted inadequate judges, for the pay they get.....

[EternalVigilance]

The issue of pay, says Roberts, "has now reached the level of a constitutional crisis."

Why am I not filled with hope for future wise rulings from the "Roberts Court"?

What's this guy gonna do when he meets up with a REAL constitutional crisis?

Such hyperbole from a man in his position is despicable, especially when you consider the subject matter.

Hey, "Your Honor," why don't the mutilation deaths of nearly 50 million defenseless unborn Americans, due primarily to the malfeasance of the body you head, amount to a "constitutional crisis"? Isn't the primary purpose of the Constitution to protect the lives, the liberty and the private property of the American people?

The more I mull over this story, the madder I get.

I've tried to reserve judgment, even though I've feared he was just another inside-the-beltway, insider, empty-suit pick. But if he keeps this crap up, he's going to make Harriet Meiers look serious in comparison.

[EternalVigilance]

"It changes the nature of the federal judiciary when judges are no longer drawn primarily from among the best lawyers in the practicing bar," Roberts wrote.

Maybe we should draw them from somewhere else, then.

Maybe from somewhere where they know how to read plain English.

[hosepipe]

[ Federal district court judges are paid $165,200 annually; appeals court judges make $175,100; associate justices of the Supreme Court earn $203,000; the chief justice gets $212,100. ]

Those mere wages don't begin to cover a Judges remuniration..
As with ANY FEDERAL WORKER.. Being a federal worker is a license to steal..

The HealthCARE AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS(plus other perks) are Obscene..

[little jeremiah]

Sniff...sniff...small sob...choking...sniffle...SOB!

How can those poor men and women endure such bitter poverty??

[eleni121]

Roberts is wrong on this (and Scalia as well if he has talked about it)

1) a federal judge who has reached the age of 65 and served at least 15 years can retire at full pay - anybody know any law firms that are that generous?

2) no amount of money can compensate for the power and prestige of judges..not that most of them are deserving.

3) salaries for the federal judiciary are set by Congress (God help us)

http://www.ncsconline.org/WC/Publications/KIS_JudComJudSal010106Pub.pdf

[Hawthorn]

The trouble isn't that judges are paid too little. It's rather that other lawyers are paid too much, thanks to their cartel's power over the legal system and thanks to the always-increasing and mind-numbing complexity of the law.

[CottShop]

lol I saw this in my paper this mornin- the article headline read "Judges receive 'low' pay" Since when is $200,000.00 concidered 'low pay'? Cripes While the rest of America struggles to make anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000 per year- these folks are whining about $200,000 per year?

Perhaps we should drop their pay to $50,000 for a couple years so that they understand where America is comming from when they make their disconnected judgements against hte majority of Americans! http://sacredscoop.com

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

In the 1950s, 65 percent of U.S. District Court judges came from the practicing bar and 35 percent came from the public sector. Today the situation is reversed, Roberts said, with 60 percent from the public sector and less than 40 percent from private practice.

And that is the money shot.

We don't want judges who have spent all their time in the public sector. We want judges who have a passing acquaintance with the real world.

Bottom line is that we either pay enough money to get these judges or we will pay in other ways.