John Edwards was making millions as a trial lawyer in North Carolina. John Roberts was making less than 200 grand as an appeals court judge. Does that mean that Edwards is a better candidate for the Supreme Court bench than Roberts?
The people arguing for low pay for judges are the same ones who would never make that argument for the private sector.
No, they're the ones realizing that there is a difference between the two. Judges make a good salary. Is it higher than in private life? No, but they aren't going on foodstamps any time soon, either. There are many reasons to become a judge. Money shouldn't be one of them.
Let's look at another "sector":
2007 pay scale: O-10 (full General) w/26 years of service: 14508.60/month = 174103.20/year.
Try E-9 w/26 years of service: 5512.80/month = 66153.60/year.
Somehow, I suddenly do not feel too sorry for these "poor" judges.
2007 Military Payscale - Effective January 1st, 2007
Anyone who is going to make the "best pay to attract the best and brightest" may want to look at this, and wonder who, & why they would, be attracted to such a "paltry" salary, when a person with comparable education and experience could earn ever so much more (and do it ever so much more safely) in the private sector.
If this doesn't kill the "we need to pay more to attract good candidates" argument, then nothing will. There are some jobs that need to filled by people with concerns other than the pay. Judge is one of them.