Your premise is invalid. Judges are appointed by politicians. It's not a free market.
But it competes with the free market.
Politicians can only appoint people who are willing to take the job. It IS a free market, and therefore few highly competent and ethical people are willing to take these jobs.
"Your premise is invalid. Judges are appointed by politicians. It's not a free market."
Well said. If we increase the judge's pay we allow the politicians to offer even a bigger bribe with the judgeship.
Cut their pay in half - they make too much already.
By this "logic", workers are hired by bosses, therefore, labor is not a free market.