[Mr. Jeeves]

It's funny how whenever these types of threads get posted, people from rural Alabama pop up to sarcastically say things like, "Yeah, they look real underpaid to me!" The point is that all of these judges must live in expensive cities and maintain lifestyles commensurate with their offices - and given the huge qualifications needed for these judgeships, many could easily command a million dollars a year or more at a private law firm. Roberts is just pointing out that many of them do, depriving the bench of experienced judges (which recent history suggests the nation is in dire need of).

Doubling the salary of a few hundred judges is a lot less expensive than having to put the next Alcee Hastings or Thelton Henderson on the bench because all of the good people chose private practice for financial reasons.

[indcons]

There are other intangibles (foundation/board memberships, speaking honoria, and the like) with these positions (at least the highest ones) that don't carry a fixed/declared monetary value.

However, you make a valid point.

[dennisw]

It's funny how whenever these types of threads get posted, people from rural Alabama pop up to sarcastically say things like, "Yeah, they look real underpaid to me!" The point is that all of these judges must live in expensive cities and maintain lifestyles commensurate with their offices - and given the huge qualifications needed for these judgeships, many could easily command a million dollars a year or more at a private law firm.

What flipping BS! How about they work hard in the private sector for 20 years. make the big money so their they can send their children to law school to become rat bastard lawyers.... Then they become a judge with a great pension. Great retirement package for later on

[L98Fiero]

Basing the salary of Federal judges on what hot-shot ambulance chasers can make is not a fair comparison.

I't like saying the IT guy is terribly underpaid becuase Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are millionaires. If we don't start paying IT guys millions, all the good technology will be in the private sector.

[1L]

>>It's funny how whenever these types of threads get posted, people from rural Alabama pop up to sarcastically say things like, "Yeah, they look real underpaid to me!" The point is that all of these judges must live in expensive cities and maintain lifestyles commensurate with their offices<<

I don't live in rural Alabama, and 100K is more than enough for all of them. If they don't like it, they can go elsewhere and actually work for a living.

I detest most Federal judges. The Article III judges by and large have a god-like complex. Outside of those that are incompetent, I've liked most Article I judges I've practiced in front of.

The judiciary is out of control. Raising judges' wages isn't something that would help.